FOCUS ON THE SECURITY OF SOCIETY AND ON CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

During its presidency, Finland will pay particular attention to the security of society, including resilience and preparedness for crises, as well as to children and young people.

During the presidency, we will stress the need to improve the resilience of the Nordic countries and promote comprehensive and extensive preparedness for various crises and hybrid threats. The Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland must have the opportunity to participate in this work. The development of the Nordic countries’ resilience and capacity to act in the event of crises must be consistent, and all policy sectors must be taken into account in a coordinated manner in order to step up preparedness. Nordic governmental cooperation in the ministerial councils provides an effective framework for this work. The Nordic Region must be a strong player in Europe that can react quickly and efficiently to crises such as natural disasters, pandemics and organised crime. At the EU level, Finland is pursuing its proposal to draft a strategy for a preparedness union.

In a changing environment, it is important that the authorities give consideration to guaranteeing the continuity of key societal functions, handling disturbances such as cyberthreats and ensuring security of supply and emergency preparedness. National cooperation models are in place in all the Nordic countries for how stakeholders share and analyse security-related information and for how they plan, practise and act together.

The COVID-19 pandemic showed us how important it is that all sectors of society are able to safeguard civic resilience, participation and recovery during a crisis. The stability of Finnish society is based on its operational model for comprehensive security – the ability to maintain society’s vital functions whatever the circumstances – which requires flexible cooperation between the authorities. Finland is prepared share with other countries its know-how and lessons learnt regarding comprehensive security and comprehensive defence.

Measures at the national level need to be supplemented with Nordic cooperation. During the presidency, efforts relating to preparedness and resilience will be pursued within the various sectors of the Nordic Council of Ministers. These efforts include skills development, foundation studies, research and progress towards joint preparedness, such as in the form of risk mapping. Finland stresses the importance of a clear overall picture to improve preparedness and develop cooperation. The efforts within the Nordic Council of Ministers help to make the Nordic Region as strong, prepared and resilient as possible.

The focus of Finland's and Åland's presidency is on the security of society, inherent preparedness and resilience, and children and young people.ung people.

Trust plays an important role when it comes to both preventing and dealing with crises. Education, training and culture-based services support the civic knowledge and skills needed in a changing society. People’s health, wellbeing and functional capacity, alongside an equitable and democratic society and the prevention of marginalisation, underpin social stability and a sense of justice in society. Activities within civil society organisations, churches and other religious communities, and other associations give a country’s inhabitants a social frame of reference that establishes trust and a just society for all.

Security of supply is the basis for a society’s comprehensive security. With this in mind, Finland wants to strengthen Nordic cooperation on security of supply and emergency preparedness. The security of food and energy supplies is an essential aspect of security of supply. Finland aims to create a Nordic security of supply network, the initial steps of which will be to evaluate various aspects of security of supply in the Nordic countries and determine what preparations are needed at the Nordic level, and to draft an action plan.

Together with Åland, Finland is promoting the rights of children and young people, as well as welfare and participation in the Nordic Region. The Nordic Council of Ministers’ work with children and young people should also be monitored systematically. Children’s rights must be protected by putting children’s best interests first, which also means strengthening the participation of children and young people in society. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which guides the work of the Nordic Council of Ministers, is exceptionally comprehensive and detailed. Children have the right to the protection and care they need, which means that adults must ensure that children’s rights are fulfilled and prevent their rights from being neglected.