Haku

28.8.2023 | Finland's civil defence shelters are largely in good repair, but there is still some need for maintenance and repairs. A new Ministry of the Interior study shows that more than 90 per cent of civil defence shelters would provide people with good protection against the effects of conventional weapons. Shelter equipment is in most need of repair. Based on the report, the Ministry of the Interior has drawn up four recommendations for improving the network of civil defence shelters.

16.12.2021 | Finland’s national security has improved with the legislation on intelligence. Information gathering on threats to national security and national defence has become more effective, too, since the new intelligence powers entered into force. This is stated in a recent report on intelligence legislation, which was adopted at the government plenary session on 16 December.

9.6.2022 | The Ministry of the Interior has set up a legislative project to enable automated decision-making in the Finnish Immigration Service’s activities. This would make it possible to resolve simpler matters as efficiently as possible.

9.3.2023 | EU home affairs ministers gather in Brussels on 9 March for a meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council. Items on the agenda include the monitoring of the implementation of the Action Plans on the Western Balkans and Central Mediterranean migration routes. The European Commission presented both plans at the end of last year. Minister of the Interior Krista Mikkonen will represent Finland at the meeting.

22.6.2022 | In future, the border procedure could be introduced by decision of the Government if an exceptionally large number of people were to arrive in Finland over a short period of time or if hybrid influence activities that exploit migration were directed against Finland. The Government submitted the relevant proposal for amending the Aliens Act to Parliament on 22 June. The purpose of the proposal is to make it easier to manage migrants who have made their way towards Finland.

6.6.2022 | The working group appointed by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs presents proposals concerning the amendment of the Act on the Making of Decisions Concerning the Provision of and Request for International Assistance. The working group proposes that the Act be amended so that its scope of application would cover not only international assistance but also activities arising from Finland's national needs without an outside request.

4.8.2023 | Summary: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues. As a result of the war, around four million Ukrainians have applied for temporary protection in the Member States of the European Union. Other migration to the EU is also growing. Both the number of asylum applications submitted in the EU and irregular migration to the EU are on the rise. At the moment, migration pressure is concentrated on the Central Mediterranean route from Tunisia and Libya to Italy.

17.2.2022 | On 14 December, the European Commission issued a proposal for a Regulation addressing situations of instrumentalisation in the field of migration and asylum. The Regulation would allow all EU Member States to derogate from certain provisions on the EU asylum procedure, reception of asylum seekers and return in situations of instrumentalisation. The Government expressed its position on the proposal in its communication submitted to Parliament on 17 February.

10.5.2022 | The Ministry of the Interior has sent out for comments draft amendments to the Aliens Act that would enable the introduction of the border procedure. The border procedure would allow the processing of potentially unfounded asylum applications immediately at or in the vicinity of the border. This would prevent asylum applicants from travelling within Finland or from Finland to other EU countries. The deadline for submitting comments is 23 May.

24.11.2022 | EU home affairs ministers will gather in Brussels on Friday 25 November for an extraordinary meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council. The ministers will discuss migration to the EU, taking stock of the urgent challenges and joint way forward. Minister of the Interior Krista Mikkonen will represent Finland at the meeting.

10.11.2022 | The Government proposes amendments to the Lotteries Act to make it compatible with a new model for financing activities with proceeds from gambling. From the beginning of 2024, Veikkaus Oy’s proceeds could be entered in the Budget without earmarking their purpose of use under the Lotteries Act.

15.9.2022 | The European Commission proposes a number of measures to help EU Member States prevent and combat child sexual abuse. The Government informed Parliament of the European Commission’s proposal for a Regulation by submitting a Union communication on 15 September. 

20.10.2022 | The Government aims to improve the status of victims of human trafficking and strengthen their right to services, regardless of the progress of related criminal proceedings in a human trafficking case. The purpose is to loosen the link between assistance to victims and criminal proceedings by amending the Act on the Reception of Persons Applying for International Protection and on the Identification of and Assistance to Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings.

3.10.2022 | The Ministry of the Interior launched the autumn call for proposals for the EU Home Affairs Funds on 3 October 2022. A total of EUR 86.7 million in funding can be applied for from the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF), the Internal Security Fund (ISF) and the Instrument for Financial Support for Border Management and Visa Policy (BMVI). The call for proposals will end on 1 November 2022.

29.12.2022 | The status and the right to services of victims of human trafficking will improve as the help provided through the Assistance System will no longer depend on the progress of the criminal proceedings related to human trafficking. Primarily, assistance will be based on an assessment of the victim’s individual situation. The President of the Republic approved the related legislative amendments on 29 December and they will enter into force on 1 January.

11.5.2021 | On 11 May, the EU Member States and a group of African countries invited by Portugal met via a video conference at the Ministerial Conference on Management of Migratory Flows. The Conference was organised at the initiative of the Portuguese Council Presidency, and Finland was represented by State Secretary Olli-Poika Parviainen.  The Conference was also attended by the European Commission, the Europ...

9.4.2021 | The Ministry of the Interior sent out for comments a draft act on the treatment of persons in police custody and certain related acts. The purpose of this legislative reform is to update the provisions on custody-related rights, obligations and restrictions on fundamental rights of those deprived of their liberty, the powers of personnel performing guard duties and the obligations of the authorities.

16.2.2021 | A study commissioned by the Government investigated the combined impacts of the amendments made to the Aliens Act in 2015–2019 on the status of people applying for and receiving international protection and on the realisation of the best interests of the child. The decision to carry out the study was based on an objective set in the Government Programme, which states that the Government will investig...

8.7.2022 | In future, the reception of asylum applications can be centralised at separately designated border crossing points at Finland’s national border. Amendments to the Border Guard Act help prepare for hybrid influence activities that exploit e.g. migration. The President of the Republic approved the amendments on 8 July. The act will enter into force on 15 July 2022.

19.5.2022 | Border security will be strengthened by improving the ability of the Finnish Border Guard to prepare for and respond to incidents under normal conditions. The Ministry of the Interior has sent a draft government proposal on amending the Border Guard Act out for comments. The aim is to make the necessary amendments to the Border Guard Act to help prepare for hybrid influence activities that exploit migration, for example.

17.6.2022 | The Ministry of the Interior has sent out for comments draft amendments to the Act on the Reception of Persons Applying for International Protection and on the Identification of and Assistance to Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings. The amendments aim to weaken the link between the provision of assistance to victims of human trafficking and criminal proceedings. In accordance with the Governm...

12.4.2022 | The Border Guard’s preparedness and capacity to respond to incidents under normal conditions will be improved by reviewing the legislation on the powers of the Border Guard. The Ministry of the Interior has set up a project to assess the need to amend border guard legislation. In particular, the aim is to draw up the necessary legislative amendments to prepare for hybrid influence activities that exploit migration.

28.4.2022 | On 28 April, the Government submitted to Parliament a proposal to amend the Nationality Act. The aim of the proposed amendments is to update and clarify the Act.

31.3.2021 | On 31 March 2021, the Government proposed new legislation to improve the legal status and earnings opportunities of foreign berry pickers and to make the competitive environment equal to companies in the sector. As foreign berry pickers have not been deemed to be in an employment relationship but instead to work as entrepreneurs, their status is currently unregulated from a legal point of view.

9.6.2022 | Border security will be strengthened by improving the ability of the Finnish Border Guard to prepare for and respond to incidents under normal conditions. The proposed amendments will also improve the Border Guard’s preparedness for emergency conditions. The Border Guard Act will be amended to help prepare for hybrid influence activities that exploit migration, for example. The Government submitted the proposal for amending the Board Guard Act to Parliament on 9 June.

4.5.2020 | A research project will examine the combined effects of the amendments to the Aliens Act and the practices of applying the Act with regard to the status of those requesting and receiving international protection. In particular, the project will examine whether the amendments have had an impact on safeguarding the best interests of the child.

5.5.2021 | In line with the Government Programme, the Action Plan for the Prevention of Irregular Entry and Stay has been updated for the period 2021–2024. The purpose of the Action Plan is to tackle comprehensively irregular entry and stay, cross-border crime and the emergence of a parallel society outside the Finnish society.

11.2.2021 | Employers should support an employee who is subject to online targeting and shaming on social media or otherwise because of his or her duties. In addition, the police must ensure uniform practices in the investigation of online targeting and shaming. This will improve the position of the victim and safeguard legal protection, says the Ministry of the Interior's working group.

3.6.2021 | On Thursday 3 June, the Government appointed Laura Yli-Vakkuri, Master of Laws, as Director General of the International Affairs Unit in the Ministry of the Interior for the period 1 July 2021 to 30 April 2026. 

24.11.2021 | The Ministry of the Interior has set up a project to assess the possible needs for legislative amendments to prepare for hybrid influencing that exploits migration. The project will assess the means of the current legislation that can be used to prepare for and respond to such hybrid influencing, as well as possible needs to amend the legislation in the administrative branch of the Ministry of the Interior. 

3.12.2020 | On Friday 4 December, Minister of the Interior Maria Ohisalo will chair the ministerial meeting of the Nordic cooperation group on migration and asylum (NSHF). The meeting will be held via remote connections.

28.10.2021 | The Ministry of the Interior has set up a project to conduct a preliminary study concerning the needs for amendments in the Aliens Act and how the reform should implemented.

25.2.2021 | International internet crime and mobile crime are constantly evolving. Proposed amendments to the Europol Regulation concern, for example, exchange of information between Europol and private operators to ensure that prevention of serious international crime and terrorism meets today’s requirements.

1.10.2021 | On 1 October, the Ministry of the Interior sent out for comments a draft government proposal to amend the Nationality Act. The aim of the amendments is to update and clarify the Act. The intention is not to make it easier or more difficult to acquire or lose citizenship.

18.11.2021 | The Money Collection Act will be amended so that voluntary carbon offsetting services can be provided without a money collection licence in future. These services will be excluded from the scope of the Money Collection Act. The Government submitted the bill amending the Act for approval on Thursday 18 November. The President of the Republic is to approve the bill on 19 November. The Act will enter into force on 22 November 2021.

15.3.2022 | The Ministry of the Interior has set up a project to examine and prepare legislative amendments to enable the introduction of the border procedure in Finland. The border procedure would allow the processing of potentially unfounded asylum applications immediately at the border or in its vicinity. This would prevent asylum applicants from travelling within Finland or from Finland to other EU countries.

28.1.2021 | On Thursday 28 January, the Government appointed Antti Pelttari, Master of Laws, to continue in his post as the Director of the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service. The post will be filled for the period from 1 March 2021 to 28 February 2026.

19.10.2021 | Finland and Sweden have signed an agreement on police cooperation in the border area in Tornionlaakso. Its purpose is to step up police cooperation between the two countries. Minister of the Interior Maria Ohisalo and Swedish Minister for Home Affairs Mikael Damberg signed the agreement in Tornio on Tuesday 19 October.

12.11.2020 | The European Commission issued a comprehensive communication on the reform of migration and asylum policy on 23 September. The communication was accompanied by five legislative proposals. The Government expressed its position on the Commission's proposals in its communications submitted to Parliament on 12 November.

1.11.2021 | A total of 17 projects will receive funding from the last call for proposals of the programming period 2014–2020, organised in May under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF). EU funding to be granted for the projects will amount to approximately EUR 7.5 million. The funded projects will develop the asylum system and promote receptiveness in society, capacity building for legal migration and the implementation of the return system and Finland’s quota refugee programme.