Working group was set to review the Act on Peace Support Operations

Press release 285/2004
10 December, 2004

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has set up a working group to review the possible reform of the Act on Peace Support Operations and related legislation as well as to draft any required amendments to the legislation. The working group will assume its tasks immediately and its mandate will expire on 2 May, 2005.




The working group's assignment derives from changes in the field of international crisis management. Finland's full participation in crisis management cooperation, including the EU's rapid deployment force, entails reviewing of the Finnish legislation.

The chairman of the working group is Director General Markus Lyra at the Political Department of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Deputy chairman is Director General Pauli Järvenpää at the Defence Policy Department of the Ministry of Defence.

Members are:

Secretary of State Risto Volanen, Prime Minister's Office
Adviser Jarmo Viinanen, President's Office
Director Elina Kalkku, Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Director Päivi Kaukoranta, Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Counsellor Hannele Voionmaa, Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Legislative Counsellor Sten Palmgren, Ministry of Justice
Governmental Secretary Seppo Kipinoinen, Ministry of Defence
Senior Governmental Secretary Sami Paatero, Ministry of Defence
Brigadier General Paavo Kiljunen, Defence Staff
Asessor Teemu Penttilä, Defence Staff

The secretary of the working group will be appointed later.

Further information: Counsellor Hannele Voionmaa, Unit for Security Policy, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, tel. 09 1605 5485.