Protecting the security of citizens comprehensively

Europe’s security is affected by many different factors, such as violence and conflicts taking place in its neighbouring regions and resulting from violations of international law and human rights and the negative impacts of climate change.

To protect Europe, the EU must use all of its external action instruments, such as diplomacy, crisis management operations, trade policy and development aid. The EU must defend multilateral solutions and participate more effectively in conflict prevention and mediation, with a special focus on the valuable roles which can be played by young people and women.

The EU has a key role in promoting a comprehensive approach to security in Europe. The EU and its member states can make the EU a safer place to live by combating cross-border crime and terrorism, improving border management and reducing inequalities.

The overall internal security of the EU must be approached on a broad front, cooperating in areas such as crime prevention, law enforcement, border management and civil protection. It is time for the EU to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of its internal security strategy. In order to strengthen its response to possible threats to internal security, the EU first needs to identify these, keeping in mind the ever stronger links between internal and external security.

The member states must prepare together for the potential threats of tomorrow.

Finland’s Presidency aims to

Read more about important topics during Finland’s Presidency

EU2019FI backgrounder: EU’s new defence and security initiatives

EU2019FI backgrounder: Common action to counter hybrid threats

EU2019FI backgrounder: Digitalisation and artificial intelligence in defence

EU2019FI backgrounder: EU military and civilian crisis management

EU2019FI backgrounder: Effective external border control essential for free movement within the Schengen area

EU2019FI backgrounder: EU Civil Protection Mechanism must respond to increasingly complex threats

EU2019FI backgrounder: New tools for accessing electronic evidence in criminal investigations

Latest

Defence ministers discussed security and defence issues and EU-NATO cooperation

12.11.2019 16.04

EU2019FI Ministry of Defence

News item

EU defence ministers adopted new projects under Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) in their meeting on 12 November. The ministers also reviewed the EU’s military crisis management missions and operations and gave their support to further developing of EU-NATO cooperation.

Cyber Ranges Federation – towards better cyber capabilities through cooperation

4.11.2019 11.43

Ministry of Defence

Column

The Cyber Ranges Federation project is building an EU-wide cyber range, a closed cyber exercise and training environment, for the use of defence administrations in EU member states. The aim is to develop cyber capabilities and training in EU member states to help them prepare for cyber threats.

Conference focused on ways to combat hybrid threats

23.10.2019 16.00

EU2019FI Prime Minister's Office

News item

The ‘Hybrid Threats – Hybrid Response in Modern Security Environment’ conference was hosted in Helsinki on 23 October 2019 by Finland’s Presidency of the Council of the EU and the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats (Hybrid CoE). What makes a threat hybrid? How could we strengthen democracy in order to respond to threats against our political processes? What kind of risk will the new technologies pose to the operation of the critical infrastructure?

Tiina Ferm: Hybrid threats – a challenge to Europe

22.10.2019 9.50

Ministry of the Interior

Column

The purpose of hybrid influencing activities is to erode citizens’ trust in democracy and European values and to undermine the unity of the EU. Such activities may take the form of attempts to interfere in elections, manipulation of social media and cyber attacks aimed at paralysing public services – without forgetting the Salisbury poisoning incident. These rapidly evolving hybrid threats pose a long-term challenge, and Finland’s Presidency has made considerable efforts to prepare for and combat them.