Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen to visit Sweden on 11–12 September

Finland’s Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen will visit Stockholm on 11–12 September. She will meet Sweden’s Minister for Justice Gunnar Strömmer, Minister for Migration Maria Malmer Stenergard and Minister for Civil Defence Carl-Oskar Bohlin.

The ministers will discuss combating organised crime and gang crime, matters relating to migration, such as returns, and civil preparedness. The ministers will also discuss how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is affecting the current security environment.

“Finland and Sweden have a long tradition of close cooperation in home affairs. Recent changes in our security environment further emphasise the importance of a strong bilateral partnership and of Nordic cooperation,” says Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen.

Combating organised crime a common concern

Minister Rantanen and Minister Strömmer will discuss organised crime and the prevention and combat of gang crime. Close international cooperation plays a key role in the fight against organised crime. For example, efficient exchange of information between authorities is essential for combating and identifying threats.

“We must fight organised crime with determination. The Government will explore best Swedish practices of inter-authority cooperation to combat organised crime and gang crime and make use of Swedish experiences in Finland,” Minister Rantanen says.

The ministers will also discuss border security.

In Stockholm, Minister Rantanen will also meet the Swedish National Security Adviser, placed at the Prime Minister’s Office.

Returns of migrants on the agenda

Minister Rantanen and Minister Malmer Stenergard will discuss the current migration situation, returns of migrants and cooperation with third countries. 

As outlined in the Government Programme, Finland will tighten its asylum policy so that it will correspond to the general level of Nordic countries. The process of returning rejected asylum seekers will be made more efficient. It is important to exchange best practices and experiences with the Nordic countries on migration partnerships and on cooperation with third countries on returns. It is also important to prepare together for incidents of instrumentalisation of migrants and other disruptions.

Minister Rantanen will also visit the Swedish Migration Agency.

Ministers will discuss preparedness cooperation

Minister Rantanen and Minister Bohlin will discuss the cooperation between Finland and Sweden on resilience and preparedness. Stronger resilience and civil defence require active international cooperation with the EU, NATO and the Nordic countries.

The cooperation involves civil preparedness and preparedness for CBRN threats, among others efforts. Civil preparedness refers to measures taken to safeguard the functions vital to society, basic supply for the population and the State’s capacity to act in a crisis situation. 

Inquiries:

Laura Yli-Vakkuri, Director General, tel. +358 295 488 250, [email protected]
Juha Martelius, State Secretary, tel. +358 295 160 866, [email protected] (requests for interviews with Minister Rantanen)