Government resolution clarifies organisation and responsibilities with respect to comprehensive security
As the operating environment and threat scenarios change, it is becoming increasingly important to examine security from a broad perspective. This was pointed out in Preparedness and comprehensive security, a committee report by the so-called Hallberg committee, presented to the Government in 2010. The committee aimed to enhance the proactive preparedness of society. The committee based its work on the broadest security thinking possible; that of comprehensive security.
The Government resolution of 5 December 2012 defines the concept of comprehensive security and related key concepts, while specifying the responsibility of various branches of government for comprehensive security. The Government resolution clarifies the organisation of and responsibilities for comprehensive security, particularly at government level.
The concept of comprehensive security, referring to society's overall preparedness for disruptions and emergency conditions, will be adopted. Central strategic guidelines on comprehensive security will be laid down in the Government's Security and Defence Policy Report and in the strategies and programmes specifying it: the Security Strategy for Society, the Internal Security Programme and the Government Decision on Safeguarding the Security of Supply.
The resolution will clarify the disturbance management model and define disturbance management responsibilities, particularly at Government and ministry level.
The resolution also lays down preparedness responsibilities related to comprehensive security. Furthermore, it imposes the establishment of a security committee to serve as a permanent co-operation body, in pursuit of proactive preparedness for comprehensive security. Appointed by the Government, this security committee will be more extensive and broader-based than the current Security and Defence Committee. It will be established at the Ministry of Defence. The committee will be tasked with assisting the Government and its ministries in preparations for comprehensive security and in coordinating such preparedness.
Access to accurate information and reliable situation awareness create the preconditions for decision-making. Were disruptions to have a broad impact, such an impact would extend into the operational areas of several branches of government. Bearing this in mind, the ability to form and communicate a cross-administrative, integrated picture of the overall situation would be required. The resolution defines the development guidelines for the Government's situation awareness activities and communications.
Inquiries: Timo Lankinen, Permanent State Under-Secretary, tel. +358 9 160 22007, Prime Minister’s Office