Counter-terrorism builds on extensive cooperation
Terrorism is a serious attack on democracy and the rule of law. It is an exceptionally serious violation of universal values such as human dignity, freedom, equality and solidarity, and respect for fundamental and human rights.
There is no single, universally agreed, precise definition of terrorism. Terrorism usually involves violence or the threat of violence to achieve certain goals and to cause unrest or fear. As a phenomenon, terrorism is defined as action which involves the violation of national or international law, violence or the threat of violence, and the aim of causing unrest and fear.
Under criminal law, terrorist acts are acts defined in chapter 34a of the Criminal Code, i.e. terrorist offences. Terrorist acts have been criminalised more extensively than actual attacks, and various types of preparation of attacks, directing a terrorist group and participating in the activities of a terrorist group are punishable.
The Finnish Security and Intelligence Service publishes a terrorist threat assessment at least once a year. In recent years, the threat of terrorism in Finland has stabilised at the second lowest level of ‘elevated’ on a four-tier scale. The levels used by the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service are low, elevated, high and severe.
Counter-terrorism is guided by a national strategy
Finland's counter-terrorism efforts and their development are guided by the National Counter-Terrorism Strategy 2022–2025, which was prepared by the Ministry of the Interior and issued as a government resolution. The changing operating environment and the threat of terrorism impose demands on counter-terrorism. The National Counter-Terrorism Strategy provides actions for responding to those demands.
The Strategy supports long-term and broad-based cooperation between all parties involved in the fight against terrorism. Combating terrorism and combating violent radicalisation and extremism that lead to terrorism are part of international security and development cooperation. This safeguards Finland’s national interests and promotes the security of Finland and the Finnish people.
The prevention of terrorism aims to address the underlying causes of terrorism. Efforts are made to combat and detect terrorist offences as early as possible and to enforce criminal liability. Society's ability to function and return to normal conditions following a possible terrorist attack is strengthened by ensuring a sufficient level of preparedness.
The prevention of terrorist financing is an essential part of counter-terrorism. In February 2024, the Government adopted a government resolution concerning a partial update and action plan of the National Risk Assessment of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing. Together, the risk assessment and the action plan describe Finland's national understanding of the risks of money laundering and terrorist financing and of the methods to manage those risks.
International cooperation plays an important role
Counter-terrorism activities call for extensive international and EU-wide cooperation.
Finland is actively involved in counter-terrorism cooperation and prevention of the violent radicalisation that leads to terrorism in forums such as: the UN, the EU, the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), NATO, the Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh/ISIS, the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol), Interpol and the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust).
In addition, Finland is a party to nearly all key international anti-terrorism treaties.