Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discussed information and cyber security issues and Finland's participation in international crisis management
Government Communications Department
Press release 475/2013
7.11.2013
On Thursday 7 November, the President of the Republic and the Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discussed issues relating to central government information security and cyber security in general. The Committee also addressed the information security violation against the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Several projects and measures have been launched in the spring with an aim to improve information security. The Committee wants to continue and accelerate their implementation.
The Committee also discussed development needs relating to national cyber security legislation. The same issue was on the agenda in May, too. In line with the discussion in May and the Cyber Security Strategy published as a government resolution on 24 January 2013, the defence administration has reviewed the applicability and adequacy of international law and national legislation, as well as the cyber security-related legislation of certain other countries. As part of the implementation of the Cyber Security Strategy, the Government will take immediate steps to initiate the process of amending Finnish legislation.
The Committee also discussed Finland's participation in international crisis management. Approximately 400 Finnish soldiers currently participate in military crisis management, half of which are deployed to the UNIFIL operation in Lebanon. The share of UNIFIL soldiers will continue to rise as Finland will take over as lead nation of the Finnish-Irish battalion in November. The strength of Finnish troops in the NATO-led ISAF mission will decrease as preparations are made to close the operation by the end of 2014. At the same time, Finland will continue to be involved in the planning of a NATO-led follow-on mission to ISAF and makes preparations to participate in the mission as of the beginning of 2015.
Finland has approximately 120 experts in civilian crisis management tasks at present. Today, Finland has a strong participation in EU-led civilian crisis management operations in Afghanistan, Kosovo and Georgia. The share of women in expert duties, nearly 40 per cent, is clearly over the EU average.
Finland will continue to take part in international exercise and training cooperation and in rapid reaction forces.
The Committee was also briefed on the preparatory work on the December European Council meeting focusing on the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy and defence cooperation and the Eastern Partnership Summit to be held in November.
Inquiries: Ari Uusikartano, Chief of Information and Documentation, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 295 350 526; Hanna Nordström, Director of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 295 140 600; Kirsti Kauppi, Director General, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 295 351 561; and Helena Partanen, Director of Unit , Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 295 140 310