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20.12.2023 | Civil defence shelters offer much more than strong protective structures. I don't think many people know about all the functionalities, devices and equipment that our civil defence shelters have – or should have, writes Project Manager Ira Pasi.

30.7.2025 | During the summer, there have been significantly more drownings and serious near misses than usual at public swimming areas. The Ministry of the Interior, the Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes), the National Police Board of Finland and the Finnish Swimming Teaching and Lifesaving Federation met on 30 July to discuss safety at swimming areas.

8.5.2024 | During Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Finland has actively delivered civilian material assistance to Ukraine. A total of 76 vehicles and 311 truckloads of aid have been donated from Finland. The collection and delivery of material assistance to Ukraine continues.

16.8.2024 | The Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Finance have launched an extensive project to examine the need for the development of regional preparedness and situation awareness activities. The aim is to introduce as uniform an operating model and practices as possible for managing emergency conditions and various incidents under normal conditions across Finland.

10.4.2025 | In January, Moldova requested energy sector assistance through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism after Russia had stopped gas deliveries to the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova. The situation has jeopardised the functioning and stability of the electricity sector throughout the Republic of Moldova.

24.7.2024 | Finland will participate in a rescue service deployment by sending 48 experts in international civil protection to Portugal. These experts will be tasked with helping local authorities manage wildfires. The first of two groups will leave for Portugal at the beginning of August.

23.4.2025 | Finland has sent material assistance to the regions affected by earthquake in Myanmar through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The assistance consists of storage and hall tents and water purification tablets requested by the country.

10.12.2025 | An independent group of experts has conducted a broad-based interim evaluation of the wellbeing services county reform, which was published on 10 December. Minister of Social Affairs and Health Kaisa Juuso, Minister of Local and Regional Government Anna-Kaisa Ikonen and Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen consider the findings valuable.

2.4.2025 | The earthquake and its aftershocks in Myanmar on Friday 28 March have caused extensive damage. By decision of the Ministry of the Interior, Finland will send an expert to Bangkok through the EU's Civil Protection Mechanism to support the coordination of assistance to Myanmar. The Finnish expert will be posted to Myanmar for two weeks (2 to 15 April 2025).

24.2.2025 | Finland has been active in responding to Ukraine’s need for assistance. Finland has delivered more than 100 vehicles to Ukraine through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The latest consignment of 16 vehicles was delivered during the first weeks of February. Finland has also delivered more than 400 truckloads of civilian material assistance to Ukraine through the EU mechanism.

13.3.2025 | Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen visited Ukraine on 11–12 March and met with Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko. During her visit, Minister Rantanen also learnt about the various activities of the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs’ branch of government, such as the situation centre and the operations of rescuers and the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.

2.4.2025 | Libya has requested technical expertise from EU Member States through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to determine the cause of a series of house fires. One expert from Finland will participate remotely in the technical group between 2 and 11 April 2025.

18.10.2022 | The Ministry of the Interior has sent out for comments a draft proposal on the levels and system of qualifications and degree programmes in rescue services and emergency response centre operations. The draft proposal contains two alternatives for education and training in rescue services and one for education and training in emergency response centre operations. Comments on the draft will be accepted until 14 November 2022.

11.12.2024 | During May and November, Finland delivered 68 truckloads of civilian material assistance to Ukraine.

14.8.2023 | Finland is deploying the first group of 24 rescue workers on Wednesday 16 August to help Portugal manage wildfires.

9.2.2022 | The final reports of the “Capacity of and planning criteria for rescue services and civil emergency preparedness” project have been published on the Institutional Repository for the Government (Valto). The objective of the project was to produce a basis for the national planning criteria for rescue services and investigate how well the resources and capacity of rescue services and civil emergency preparedness correspond to the operating environment, risks and customer needs. 

14.2.2023 | The Ministry of the Interior has published an updated national risk assessment. The previous risk assessment was published in 2018, after which several changes have taken place in Finland’s operating environment. The national risk assessment anticipates sudden incidents targeted at Finland that have an impact on the vital functions of society and require the authorities to adopt exceptional measures or even request help from other countries. 

21.6.2021 | Every year, Midsummer bonfires lead to forest fires. Most of the fires are due to poor preparations or carelessness. The Ministry of the Interior would like to remind the public that it is always prohibited to light a bonfire when the Finnish Meteorological Institute has issued a forest fire or grass fire warning.

21.6.2021 | Every year, Midsummer bonfires lead to forest fires. Most of the fires are due to poor preparations or carelessness. The Ministry of the Interior would like to remind the public that it is always prohibited to light a bonfire when the Finnish Meteorological Institute has issued a forest fire or grass fire warning.

21.9.2023 | On Thursday 21 September, the Government appointed Kimmo Kohvakka, Master of Military Science, as Director General for Rescue Services at the Ministry of the Interior for the period from 1 November 2023 to 31 October 2028.

2.5.2022 | Minister of the Interior Krista Mikkonen will visit Tallinn on 2–3 May and meet Estonian Minister of the Interior Kristian Jaani. The Ministers will discuss topics including the situation in Ukraine, the reception of people who have fled Ukraine, provision of international assistance and civil defence.

25.7.2023 | By decision of the Ministry of the Interior, Finland is preparing to send 48 rescue workers to Portugal to help manage wildfires. The Emergency Services Academy Finland is the employer of the rescue service personnel who will be deployed to Portugal.

31.5.2024 | Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen and Ukraine's Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko held a videoconference on Friday 31 May. The home affairs ministers discussed Finland's assistance to Ukraine and Ukraine's immediate support needs. The ministers also talked about Ukraine's preparedness expertise.

17.2.2023 | Finland will send fire engines, an ambulance, a tanker truck and equipment needed for rescue operations to Ukraine on Friday 17 February. These vehicles and equipment were donated by the Rescue Departments of Central Uusimaa and Pirkanmaa. Assistance will be delivered to Ukraine through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.

25.8.2021 | The reform of chimney sweeping services, which entered into force in 2019, has not led to a significant increase in the prices of the services. On the other hand, sweeping intervals have lengthened slightly. These conclusions are presented in a study commissioned by the Ministry of the Interior from the University of Eastern Finland.

1.3.2024 | Czechia has requested assistance in preparing for wildfires through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. Finland responds to the request by sending a risk management expert to join the EU’s international team in the country. 

9.11.2022 | Finland has been providing Ukraine with more civilian material assistance over the course of October–November. On 18 October, Finland sent one truckload of back-up generators badly needed by Ukraine and two truckloads of personal protective equipment were sent in early November. The material assistance was provided through the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism.

9.10.2023 | The Government will propose an appropriation of approximately EUR 2.5 billion for the administrative branch of the Ministry of the Interior in the 2024 Budget.

23.2.2024 | The second anniversary of the beginning of the Russia’s brutal war of aggression against Ukraine in its entirety will be this week on 24 February 2024. However, one anniversary was already observed last week on 15 February, when it had been exactly two years since the activation of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism following Ukraine’s request for assistance.

5.3.2024 | Ukraine has requested assistance through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism in preparing for threats related to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear agents. Finland responds to the request by sending an expert to join the EU’s international team.

23.10.2023 | Finland and the EU have continued their active support for the Ukrainian authorities to mitigate the effects of the Russian attacks. The Ministry of the Interior coordinates the assistance that Finland sends to Ukraine through the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism together with the European Emergency Response Coordination Centre ERCC. Most of the material sent to Ukraine has been donated by private and public sector operators.

24.10.2024 | On 24 October, the Government issued a decree laying down provisions on cooperation in preparedness for civil defence and related plans in the wellbeing services counties. The decree specifies the practices of cooperation between the authorities of the wellbeing services counties.

12.10.2022 | In August-September, Finland delivered a total of five trucks to Ukraine that contained civil defence equipment, hospital supplies and scanning equipment. The material assistance was provided through the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism.

29.4.2022 | Cooperation in maintaining and developing civil preparedness is an important part of the joint preparedness of Finland and Sweden. The heads of the authorities responsible for preparedness in the two countries will meet in Helsinki on Friday 29 April. The bilateral meeting is the first of its kind, and the topics on the agenda will include civil preparedness, security of supply and cyber matters. 

22.9.2022 | The Government proposes several amendments to the Rescue Act and the Act on the Emergency Services Academy. For example, it is proposed that the obligation to purchase and maintain smoke detectors in apartments be transferred from residents to building owners.

7.12.2022 | On Wednesday 7 December, Finland sent buses to Ukraine to be used to transport children and young people to school. This donation is part of the European Commission’s solidarity campaign. Russia’s war of aggression has affected an estimated 5.7 million schoolchildren in Ukraine with many schools having been destroyed in bombing.

8.4.2022 | The Ministry of the Interior has sent out for comments a draft proposal for amending the Rescue Act and the Act on the Emergency Services Academy. Comments on the draft will be accepted until 20 May 2022.

20.10.2023 | Because of the escalating conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, more than 100,000 Armenians have fled the region towards Armenia. Armenia has therefore requested assistance through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. This includes, among other things, necessities such as food packages, clothing and hygiene supplies.

3.9.2024 | “Next year’s budget proposal shows that the Government has the will to strengthen security. In Finland, help is available in times of need,” says Lulu Ranne, Minister of Transport, Communications and the Interior.

29.12.2022 | Finland has sent more energy sector supplies and hospital supplies to Ukraine. Last week, Finland also delivered school furniture for the first time. This year, Finland has delivered a total of 55 trucks of civilian material assistance to Ukraine. New assistance packages are being prepared, among other things, for the energy sector.