Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen: Decisions in government spending limits discussion will improve internal security
In its spending limits discussion, the Government agreed on strengthening the resources of the police, the Finnish Border Guard, the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service and civil defence in order to prepare for wide-ranging threats. The capabilities of the internal security authorities are an essential part of Finland's comprehensive security.
In its session on 23 April, the Government decided on the General Government Fiscal Plan for 2026–2029. The plan will be discussed at a government session on 30 April and then submitted to Parliament.
Finland's fiscal situation is challenging, and Russia's attack on Ukraine and the ongoing war have weakened the security environment over the long term. Finland is preparing for wide-ranging threats that may involve different types of hybrid influence activities.
“In all recent incidents, the internal security authorities have ensured society's first response at the border and at sea. The Finnish Border Guard, the police, the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service and rescue services are likely to be the first ones to respond to future threats, too,” says Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen.
“In its spending limits discussion, the Government agreed on a set of measures to improve internal security. In addition to military national defence, the Government wants to ensure sufficient resources for internal security in order to prepare for all threats,” Minister Rantanen says.
The Government's decisions include around EUR 127 million in additional funding for readiness and preparedness in the Ministry of the Interior’s branch of government during the spending limits period. The level of the increases will vary annually from around EUR 20 million to around EUR 46 million.
In the spending limits period, a gradual increase from approximately EUR 5 million to approximately EUR 8 million is proposed for the police to increase the capability of the special intervention unit. This sum includes EUR 3.1 million put forth in the Ministry of Finance's proposal for 2026–2028.
From 2026 onwards, a permanent increase of approximately EUR 10 million is proposed for the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service to ensure predictive strategic capabilities. Ensuring the early warning and intelligence capacity of the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service will make it possible to obtain timely information on serious threats to national security against Finland so that the authorities can prepare for the threats and prevent them from materialising.
In the current security situation, the Finnish Border Guard must have an immediate capability to react and exert influence in all circumstances. The Government decided to propose additional funding for the Finnish Border Guard, which will rise gradually in the spending limits period from approximately EUR 13.5 million in 2026 to approximately EUR 19 million in 2029. Additional funding will be used to safeguard the use of strategic capabilities, develop powers related to internal borders and ensure the maintenance of the fence on the eastern border in the future.
A total increase of EUR 14 million is proposed for rescue services to develop civil defence at the end of the spending limits period (increases for 2028 and 2029). The appropriation will be used to improve the condition of civil defence shelters and to build additional shelters.
The need to increase funding for readiness and preparedness will also be discussed in the second supplementary budget proposal for 2025, which is currently under preparation.
The proposed increases will strengthen Finland's comprehensive security so that preparedness and capabilities better respond to the fundamental change in Finland's security environment.
Inquiries:
Ministry of the Interior, Antti Karila, Director of Finance and Planning, tel. +358 295 488 288, [email protected]
Kimmo Kohvakka, Director General for Rescue Services, tel. +358 295 488 400, [email protected]
Tomi Vuori, Director General, Police Department, tel. +358 295 488 550, [email protected]
Petri Knape, Director of the National Security Unit, tel. +358 295 488 235, [email protected]
Finnish Border Guard, Samuli Murtonen, Chief of Planning and Finance Unit, tel. +358 295 421 701, [email protected]