The Finnish concept of comprehensive security means that society’s vital functions are secured through collaboration between the authorities, the business community, organisations and citizens.
In the spirit of the Finnish crisis management approach, representatives from Italy, Spain, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Finland unwrap a series of topical discussions concerning the role of various actors in ensuring greater resilience of the societies during a two-day CRISPRO event in Helsinki and Porvoo, 28 and 29 March 2022.
Ms Ilona Hatakka highlighted the vital functions of the individuals, society and global environment as follows: leadership, psychological resilience, functional capacity of the population and services, economic infrastructure and security of supply, internal security defense capacity and international activities.
In addition, Mr Jari Honkanen (EU and International Affairs Unit, Department for Rescue Services of the MoI, Finland) outlined that ensuring the protection of the civilians is a combination of rescue tasks in prevention and quality reaction, including various rescue services and inhabitants’ preparedness activities.
Another good example of securing the continuity of the society’s critical economic functions and technical systems was presented by
Ms Hanna Havumäki from the National Supply Agency of Finland. Participants of the working meetings discussed opportunities for conducting public-private partnerships for mitigating the consequences of societal disruptions by securing stockpiles.
However, professional skills, fairness and reliability are core values for any response emergency centre, concluded the participants who followed the concise presentation of the senior expert Juha-Veli Frantti. Furthermore, modernisation of services and technological upgrades and legal amendments and educational advances are critical for maintaining quality early warning and emergency responses, concluded participants of the workshops.
Mr Mika Gröndahl, director of the Finnish National Rescue Association SPEK, stressed NGOs’ role in the comprehensive security model and citizens’ preparedness. At the same time, Ms Tuula Luoma (SPR Finnish Red Cross) and Mr Arsi Veikkolainen from the platform of the Voluntary Rescue Services Vapepa outlined the importance of the continuous building of professional “army” of non-public organisations enabling relief and preparedness services throughout the whole society. The cooperation model between non-governmental and state institutions is centred on the idea of humanitarian expertise and volunteer services.
Last but not least, the municipalities are playing a critical role in crisis management, concluded the participants by following the experience of the recent pandemic crisis and excellent disaster risk analyses and management presented by the administration of Porvoo and its preparedness planning. Presenters: Ms Sari Gustafsson, director for education in Porvoo, Ms. Minna Särelä, Development coordinator in Porvoo and Mr Peter Johansson, Director, Rescue Services of Itä-Uusimaa.
The influx of refugees and common migration policies were specific topics of the dialogue meetings of the Migration Offices from Slovakia and Finland and the Finnish Immigration Authorities.