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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.

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. 

13.8.2020 | On Thursday 13 August, the Government appointed Minna Hulkkonen, Master of Laws, as Director General of the Migration Department at the Ministry of the Interior for the period 1 September 2020 to 31 August 2025.

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.

20.8.2020 | On Thursday 20 August, the Government appointed Jari Kähkönen, Master of Administrative Sciences, as the Director General of the Finnish Immigration Service for the period between 1 September 2020 and 31 August 2025.

30.1.2020 | On 30 January, the Government appointed Taito Vainio as Director of the Emergency Response Centre Agency. Vainio holds a Master’s degree in Social Sciences and a Master's degree in Technology. He will take up his post on 1 March and his term of office will last for five years. The post is based in Pori.

19.9.2019 | At its plenary session on 19 September 2019, the Government decided to propose that the President of the Republic appoint Major General Pasi Kostamovaara as Chief of the Border Guard as of 1 October 2019. The appointment is a fixed-term one until the end of 2024. At the same time, the Government proposed that Rear Admiral Markku Hassinen be appointed Deputy Chief of the Border Guard from 1 October 2019 to 31 December 2024.

21.9.2018 | The Finnish Government has commissioned a pilot study on bottlenecks in the processing of residence permits on the basis of employment. The ministerial working group on migration discussed the study report in its meetings on 21 September 2018. Cooperation between the authorities should be improved and electronic services and customer services developed, according to the report authors.

4.7.2018 | A project appointed by the Ministry of the Interior on 3 July will investigate and draft possible amendments to the Aliens Act concerning the processing of subsequent applications for international protection and the implementation of the Finnish Immigration Service’s decisions enabled by the EU Asylum Procedures Directive. In connection with this project, an amendment required by the Court of Justice of the European Union will also be made to the Aliens Act.

22.3.2018 | The Government has appointed Ilkka Salmi, Master of Laws, to the post of Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of the Interior. The fixed-term appointment is for five years.

28.9.2017 | The European Union has appointed Director General Kauko Aaltomaa of the Police Department, the Ministry of the Interior, as Head of the EUPOL COPPS civilian crisis management operation on 28 September 2017.

4.10.2018 | On 4 October, the Government appointed Kimmo Kohvakka, Master of Arts in Military Science, as Director General for Rescue Services. He will take up his new post on 1 November and his term of office will last for five years.

30.11.2016 | The ministerial working group on migration discussed an action plan on the prevention and control of illegal residence in the country. The plan has been prepared as a collaborative effort of various ministries and it focuses on the illegal residence in the country of people who have received a negative asylum decision.