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Small ministry, large branch of government The National Police Board and the Finnish Immigration Service operate under the Ministry of the Interior. The agencies provide guidance within their scope of activities. The Finnish Border Guard is respon...

21.5.2026 | The Government will establish a police reserve in Finland to ensure the police have sufficient resources in exceptional circumstances. In its session, the Government proposed that the President of the Republic approve the bill on establishing a police reserve on Friday 22 May. Most of the legislative amendments are scheduled to enter into force on 1 January 2027.

5.3.2026 | The Government intends to establish a police reserve in Finland to ensure sufficient police resources in all circumstances. The threshold for deploying the reserve would be high. The Government submitted a proposal on the matter to Parliament on 5 March. Most of the legislative amendments are scheduled to enter into force on 1 January 2027.

22.12.2025 | The start of 2026 will see the entry into force of new acts and decrees. This press release provides a summary of the most important changes in the Ministry of the Interior’s government branch.

8.12.2025 | The Ministry of the Interior has commissioned the Emergency Services Academy Finland to prepare a report on the current state and development needs of the fixed public warning system. The report will be completed in December 2026.

10.11.2025 | The Ministry of the Interior is requesting comments on a draft government proposal for the establishment and deployment of a police reserve. The aim is to ensure that the police have sufficient resources in all circumstances. The draft proposal also includes an amendment concerning the qualification requirements for the Master of Police Services degree. The deadline for submitting comments is 22 December 2025.

18.6.2025 | Ministry of the Interior – Branch of government Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen State Secretary Heikki Tamminen Permanent Secretary Matti Sarasmaa Finnish Border Guard • Border Guard Headquarters • Border Guard Districts • Coast Guard Distr...

23.3.2023 | Several amendments will made to the Rescue Act and the Act on the Emergency Services Academy. For example, the obligation to purchase and maintain smoke detectors in apartments will be transferred from the residents to the owner of the building from the beginning of 2026.

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.

22.12.2021 | The Ministry of the Interior has issued decrees on the chargeable services of Pelastusopisto – Emergency Services Academy Finland and the Emergency Response Centre Agency. The decrees will enter into force on 1 January 2022.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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

29.5.2023 | According to the 2023 survey, the attitudes of Finns towards rescue services have remained positive. World events, such as Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, are clearly reflected in how Finns perceive the likelihood that potential risks may materialise. Similarly, Finns see civil defence as more necessary than before.

23.3.2023 | Considerable increases are proposed to appropriations in the administrative branch of the Ministry of the Interior in the technical spending limits presented in the new General Government Fiscal Plan 2024–2027. The appropriation level of the Ministry of the Interior will be c. EUR 2.4 billion at the beginning of the spending limits period, decreasing to c. EUR 1.9 billion in 2027. This represents an increase of EUR 179 to 547 million per year compared to the previous spending limits decision. 

31.10.2022 | Finland has sent two international civil protection experts to Havana, Cuba, to support the training of local urban search and rescue personnel. Having identified a lack of expertise among Havana’s local authorities in conducting rescue from collapsed structures, Cuba requested international assistance to train urban search and rescue workers. The experts left Finland on Monday 31 October.

11.3.2021 | The Ministry of the Interior has decided to send two experts to Bata, Equatorial Guinea, where an explosion at a munitions depot has caused extensive destruction. Equatorial Guinea has requested international assistance in the rescue operations following the explosion accident. The Emergency Services Academy Finland will serve as the employer of the posted experts.