Finnish Government proposes to extend validity of Border Security Act

The Finnish Government proposes to extend the validity of the Act on Temporary Measures to Combat Instrumentalised Migration (‘Border Security Act’) until 31 December 2026. The purpose of the act is to prevent efforts to put pressure on Finland through the instrumentalisation of migrants. The Government submitted a proposal on the matter to Parliament on 27 March. 

“The threat of instrumentalised migration at Finland’s eastern border remains high and difficult to predict. The situation at the border is tense but stable. However, we must prepare for the possibility that the situation may change rapidly and seriously,” says Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen.

“By extending the validity of the Border Security Act, we will ensure that border authorities have sufficient powers to act preventively and effectively in the most serious incidents of instrumentalised migration," Rantanen says.

So far, the Border Security Act has not been applied. The application of the act would require a separate decision, and it would be the last resort to control the situation.

Finland’s eastern border is the longest external border that both the EU and NATO have with Russia.

The Government does not propose to change the content of the act. The proposed act should enter into force by 21 July 2025 at the latest.

The Border Security Act is an important tool for protecting national security

The Border Security Act entered into force on 22 July 2024 and will remain in force for one year. It lays down the conditions under which Finland can decide to restrict the reception of applications for international protection in a limited area on Finland’s national border and in its immediate vicinity. The purpose of the act is to prevent efforts to put pressure on Finland through the instrumentalisation of migrants.

Finland’s eastern border will remain closed until further notice

The border crossing points on the land border between Finland and Russia have been closed since 15 December 2023 by virtue of a series of government decisions. The most recent decision was issued on 4 April 2024 and will remain in force until further notice. However, the situation and the necessity of the restrictions are monitored regularly.

Applications for international protection may be submitted at other border crossing points at Finland’s external borders that are still open for air and maritime traffic.

The above government decisions and the enactment of the Border Security Act have achieved their intended effect, and instrumentalised migration has ceased for now.

Inquiries:
Sanna Palo, Head of Legal Division, Finnish Border Guard, tel. +358 295 421 601, firstname.lastname@raja.fi