The preparation of a new report on the Finnish Security and Defence Policy begins
Government Communications Unit
Press Release 210/2007
14 August 2007
The Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy has decided to launch the preparation of a new Government Report on Finnish Security and Defence Policy. In line with the Government Programme, the preparation of the report will be based on a broad-based concept of security. Long-term development plans and resources of the Finnish Defence Forces will be defined in connection with the report. At the same time, the effects of the EU’s security guarantees as well as those of military non-alliance or military alliance, will be defined and used in the evaluation of Finland’s military position.
The Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy, which holds regular meetings with the President of the Republic, will be responsible for the preparation of the report.
A working group has been set up for the compilation of the report. The group will be chaired by Esko Hamilo, State Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs in the Prime Minister’s Office. Other members include Markus Lyra, State Under-Secretary in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs; Pauli Järvenpää, Director General in the Ministry of Defence (deputised by Markku Koli, Major General in the Defence Command); Raimo Sailas, State Secretary in the Ministry of Finance; and Jarmo Viinanen, Permanent Secretary in the Office of the President of the Republic.
At civil servant level, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs will be responsible for issues relating to the foreign and security environment and its effects on Finland; the Ministry of Defence, with the support of the Security and Defence Committee, for issues relating to defence policy and the supplementing overall national defence; and the Prime Minister’s Office, with the support of the meeting of permanent secretaries and the meeting of heads of preparedness, for issues relating to security in its broad sense (excluding military security). The Office of the President of the Republic will also be closely involved in the preparation of the report.
The Prime Minister, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Defence will present matters falling within their respective purview to the Cabinet Committee for Foreign and Security Policy.
Current situation and objectives
Finland’s foreign and security policy operating environment has changed and it continues to do so in a number of ways. The whole international system has entered a new development phase. There is wide debate on the role of different countries and also on the future of the key international institutions, including the UN, the EU and Nato The EU has enlarged and it is currently undergoing a significant institutional change also as regards its foreign and security policy. Nato has completed an important enlargement round. Due to its internal development, Russia is seeking for a strengthened role in international politics. Globalisation and new global threats emphasise the significance of the broad security concept in security policy.
The new report, to be issued in 2008, is to provide a thorough assessment of the aforementioned changes and their impact on Finland’s position and its security and defence policy. To this end, the report is also to focus on issues relating to Finland’s national defence and to the development of security in its broad sense.
Extensive international cooperation and properly functioning country-wide intersectoral action, taking the status of the Province of Åland into consideration, is necessary to ensure broad-based security. The Strategy for Securing the Functions Vital to Society will be updated.
The objective is to finalise the preparation process and submit the report to Parliament in 2008.
Further information: Esko Hamilo, State Under-Secretary, Prime Minister’s Office, tel. +358 9 1602 2068 and Markus Lyra, State Under-Secretary, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 5031