Leadership

Leadership provides the foundation for ensuring that all other vital functions remain secure. Leadership capacity must be maintained in all situations and at every operational level. Effective crisis management requires close cooperation between leadership, situational awareness, and communication. The importance of leadership is emphasised in large-scale disruptions and crises.

International cooperation, including EU and NATO activities

International activities extend to all levels and sectors of Finnish society. Enabling international cooperation and participating in crisis prevention is an integral part of the safeguarding of other vital functions of society. Security cooperation at the EU level is an integral part of the security planning of administrative branches.

The security measures are related to international cooperation. Finland, NATO and the European Union complement and strengthen each other in promoting security.

Defence capability

By maintaining a strong defence capability, the aim is to prevent the use or threat of military force against Finland. Society’s preparedness forms the basis of effective prevention. Military threats to Finland will be countered by military means, if necessary, together with NATO allies. Finland engages in international defence cooperation based on its own and common interests.

Internal security

By maintaining internal security, Finland can prevent and counter criminal activities against the country and population, and prevent accidents, environmental damage or other similar disturbances, as well as successfully manage their consequences. Close cooperation between national and international authorities, the European Union and other actors at all levels of government will support this work.

Hybrid threats set new kinds of requirements for the actions of authorities and for cooperation between them. The line between external and internal security has become blurred.

Cooperation with national and international authorities, as well as Finland’s memberships in the EU, the Schengen system and NATO, support internal security.

Economy, infrastructure, and security of supply

Ensuring the functions of the economy, infrastructure and the security of supply will provide the funding and other resources needed to maintain vital functions. The domestic and international infrastructure, organisations, structures and processes necessary for vital functions will be safeguarded.

Functional capacity of the population and services

The functional capacity and well-being of individuals and the entire population will be secured by maintaining key basic services. They contribute to the survival of citizens in all situations.

Psychological resilience

Psychological resilience refers to the ability of individuals, communities, and societies to withstand the pressures arising from crisis situations and to recover from their impacts.

Mutual trust between citizens and their trust in the vital functions of society are fundamental for psychological resilience. Trust is created under normal circumstances. Finland’s comprehensive security is based on the inviolability of human dignity, the principles of representative democracy, the legality of the exercise of public authority and other principles of the rule of law.