Improving comprehensive security in Europe

Improving comprehensive security in Europe is one of Finland’s EU policy priorities. It is in Finland’s interest that the EU is as strong and effective as possible when it comes to security and defence.

Finland has already succeeded in putting security at the top of the EU agenda: security and preparedness are important priorities for the new Commission, which began its work in 2024.

Finland’s approach is strongly informed by comprehensive security thinking. The Finnish model for comprehensive security means that public authorities, businesses, organisations and citizens work closely together to safeguard the vital functions of society. Finland’s goal has been to use the lessons we have learned to incorporate certain principles of comprehensive security into the work of the EU. These principles include comprehensive and cross-administrative cooperation, civil-military cooperation and private and third sector participation in building preparedness throughout society.

Three key strategies

In spring 2025, the Commission published three strategies that will serve to strengthen European defence, preparedness and resilience: the Commission’s White Paper for European Defence, the EU Preparedness Union Strategy and the European Internal Security Strategy.

The White Paper for European Defence sets out measures to increase defence readiness, whereas the Preparedness Union Strategy offers tools for developing joint preparedness in the Member States and the Union, especially in the civilian operating environment. The Internal Security Strategy, for its part, highlights the links between internal and external security. 

All three strategies are based on former president Sauli Niinistö’s autumn 2024 report to the Commission, in which he noted that the EU urgently needs to enhance its civilian and military preparedness.

When developing European security, defence and preparedness, it is also important to increase cooperation between the EU and NATO in a way that is mutually complementary.

European Defence – Readiness 2030

The White Paper for European Defence is based on the need to build up Europe’s deterrence in the current operating environment. The goal is for Europe to achieve full defence readiness by 2030. Finland succeeded in influencing the preparation of the White Paper for Defence in a variety of ways, including making sure that ground combat capabilities are taken into account in future defence funding solutions.

The EU’s actions – such as the financing solutions set out in the White Paper – will play a supportive role for the Member States, which will continue to bear the main responsibility for increasing defence investments and readiness.

In March 2025, using the White Paper as a framework, the Commission presented its ReArm Plan, which includes the exceptional temporary Security Action for Europe (SAFE) instrument to address the crises arising from security threats.

Negotiations on the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP) also progressed over the course of the spring.

A whole-of-society approach to preparedness

Alongside military preparedness, the EU must invest in the preparedness of society as a whole. Finland advocates for a 360-degree approach in which preparedness is taken into account in all policy sectors and threats and risks are examined from all angles.

The EU Strategy for a Preparedness Union can be considered the result of Finland's successful advocacy work. While each Member State continues to be responsible for its own preparedness, Europe as a whole will be stronger when measures are coordinated and the level of preparedness in the Member States improves.

The Preparedness Union Strategy puts forth 63 measures to be implemented over the next three years. Key topics include strengthening the resilience of society and critical infrastructure, protecting the civilian population, ensuring security of supply and people’s independent preparedness, and promoting civil-military cooperation.

Developing preparedness is a new policy area in the EU that is still in its early stages, and Finland, as a model for European preparedness, has a good opportunity to lead its development. Effective implementation of the strategy is an important part of the work to strengthen European security.

Threats to internal security do not respect national borders 

Hybrid threats, serious and organised crime and terrorism are undermining the foundations of EU institutions and society. Measures at the EU-level play a key role in maintaining internal security.

The EU Internal Security Strategy describes threats to the current security environment and sets out means to respond to them. A common strategy is necessary because many of today’s security threats can affect several countries at once or easily move from one country to another. The strategy also supports Member States’ joint response to global political and economic changes affecting the internal security of the Union.

To respond to the changing security environment, it is important to develop the operating conditions for law enforcement and judicial authorities, and to facilitate cross-border cooperation. Key issues include improving the authorities’ access to data and ensuring that they can exchange information effectively. The EU Member States also need a shared situational picture that supports the national authorities in responding to hybrid threats.