Working group to consider reform of Finland’s Act on Peace Support Operations

President Halonen still reluctant to change legislation

Tarja Halonen

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Following Finland’s decision to participate in the EU’s Rapid Response Force, President Tarja Halonen and the Finnish Government agreed on Friday that a working group would be set up to review the possible reform of the Act on Peace Support Operations and related legislation. The working group will comprise representatives of different administrative sectors and it will be headed by an appointee from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
     
In the meeting between the President and the Cabinet Commitee on Foreign and Security Policy, Halonen stressed once again that setting up a working group does not necessarily mean that the legislation on peace-keeping forces would actually be changed. At this stage, the intention is to evaluate the possible need for amendments.
      Halonen dislikes the idea that in the future Finnish peace-keepers might participate even in military operations that have no mandate from the UN or from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
      There have been doubts that Finland will be unable to fully participate in the EU’s crisis management operations and NATO cooperation unless an amendment in the Act on Peace Support Operations is made so that in addition to the UN and OSCE, at least the EU and the NATO will be approved as mandatory authorities.
     
Another reason to amend the law is that the European Union’s Rapid Response Force has to gain access to the operational area within about ten days from the decision of the EU. However, the decision-making system in foreign and security policy in Finland may be too slow for that.
      Moreover, there are other issues including a new kind of military readiness and commitment that might create needs for amendments in various statutes. To avoid unpleasant surprises, the working group intends to review the whole related legislation.
     
The Government agreed that the working group would be chaired by a representative of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, and that the Vice-Chairman would be a representative of the Ministry of Defence.
      The objective of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs is to appoint the Chairman and the other members of the working group by the end of the current year. No deadline for the working group has been agreed upon yet.
      The meeting also discussed Finland’s participartion in the European Union’s Rapid Response Force, and it was confirmed that Finland will give notice of its participation in two battle groups, one of which will be established in cooperation with Germany and the Netherlands, and the other with Sweden and hopefully also Norway.
     
Minister of Defence Seppo Kääriäinen also told the meeting that Finland intends to join the Strategic AirLift Interim Solution (SALIS), which currently covers 15 countries including Germany, the Netherlands, and Norway. Furthermore, also Sweden intends to join the agreement. These countries buy their strategic airlift services from abroad, for instance massive Antonov An-125 transport aircraft from Ukraine.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Finland decides to take part in German-Dutch EU battle group (4.11.2004)

Links:
  Government Information Unit: Review of Finlands Act on Peace Support Operations
  Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland Information Unit: Finland ready to participate in a joint combat detachment with Germany and the Netherlands

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