Finland's participation in international crisis management tasks
Government Communications Unit
Press release 272/2007
5.10.2007
On Friday, 5 October, the President of the Republic and the Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discussed Finland's participation in a possible EU crisis management operation in Chad and the Central African Republic and Finland’s participation in EU battle groups in 2011. The meeting also discussed the 2008 Government report on Finnish security and defence policy and preparations for the OSCE Chairmanship in 2008.
Finland makes preparations for a planned EU military crisis management operation in Chad and the Central African Republic. The operation is based on a UN Security Council Resolution adopted on 25 September 2007 that calls on the EU to help improve the security situation in the area, to facilitate the arrival of humanitarian aid and to support the work of UN and Chad police forces. The Council of the European Union is expected to decide on the launch of this operation before the end of the month. Finland prepares to deploy a force protection troop or a special jaeger group (30-40 soldiers), staff officers and necessary service and support elements. A report on the operation will be submitted to Parliament.
It was also decided that Finland will announce its readiness to participate in two EU battle groups in the first half of 2011. Finland will participate at the same time in a battle group formed by the Netherlands and Germany and a battle group comprising Swedish, Finnish, Estonian, Irish and Norwegian troops. Finland has previously agreed on also participating in a Nordic battle group whose standby period is to begin on 1 January 2008. The size and type of troop will be decided on separately.
The President of the Republic and the Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discussed premises for the new Government report on Finnish security and defence policy and the structure and schedule for preparing the report. The working group preparing the report has begun its work and a parliamentary Security Policy Monitoring Group has been established to support the preparation of the report. The report will be drawn up on the basis of the comprehensive security concept. It will evaluate changes in Finnish foreign and security policy environment and their effects on Finland’s position and its foreign and security policy. This will provide a basis for defining long-term development plans and resources of our defence. The report is to be submitted to Parliament in autumn 2008.
The meeting also discussed Finland’s OSCE Chairmanship in 2008, the state of preparations and the priorities of the Chairmanship.
Further information:
- Chad/CAR and EU battle groups: Timo Kantola, Head of Unit, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 5480 and Mari Eteläpää, Head of Unit, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 9 1608 8135.
- Security and defence policy report 2008: Esko Hamilo, State Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Prime Minister’s Office, tel. +358 9 1602 2068
- OSCE Chairmanship: Aleksi Härkönen, Head of the Finnish OSCE Chairmanship Task Force, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 5496