THE EUROPEAN – SECURITY AND DEFENCE UNION
Finland promotes an EU defence cooperation Finland’s goal is to advance the connections and coherence of different defence initiatives by General Timo Kivinen, Chief of Defence, Finland, Helsinki
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inland actively participates in the development and execution of the European Union’s Common Foreign and Security Policy. For Finland, the European Union (EU) is both a security policy choice and a community of values. A strong Europe strengthens Finland’s security. By ensuring its own defence capability, Finland also acts responsibly and participates in guaranteeing the EU’s security. During its Presidency from 1st July to 31st December 2019, in the field of defence, Finland strives to both ensure the effective implementation of previously set goals, and to have discussions on the development of future capabilities and the enhancement of cooperation.
EU cooperation supports the defence of nations The changes in the military operational environment during the last five years have deepened defence cooperation within the EU. After the publication of the Global Strategy for the European Union’s Foreign and Security Policy, defence cooperation has advanced in great strides: these issues now have an established position on the EU’s political agenda. Finland supports the facilitation of defence cooperation and
the strengthening of the EU as a security community. The Finnish Defence Forces use the EU as a forum for cooperation, particularly to advance concrete capability projects. In building a capability, the goal is to acquire the best possible option as cost-effectively as possible. Generally, capability planning is done with the perspective, and needs, of national defence in mind. The interoperability of forces and compatibility of systems will become increasingly more important in the future. Furthermore, the Finnish Defence Forces actively participate in Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) projects. The potential interfaces with either existing or planned national projects are checked with every new project cycle. The selected cooperation projects will support the building of national capabilities. Overall, during the first two project cycles, Finland has joined eleven PESCO projects. In addition to PESCO, Finland participates in several other European defence projects.
General Timo Kivinen is the Chief of Defence in Finland. He started his career at the Finnish Military Academy in 1979. After the War College (1991 - 1993) he served as the Finnish Defence Attaché in Austria, Hungary (resident) and Ukraine from 1998 to 2001 before commanding the Utti Jaeger Regiment (2001 - 2004). He graduated from the Royal College of Photo: MOD Helsinki
Defence Studies in 2008. He was promoted to Brigadier General in 2010 and was assigned as Commander of the Karelia Brigade in
2011. From 2015, General Kivinen served as Deputy Chief of Staff, Strategy after which he was appointed Chief of the Defence Command in 2017. Timo Kivinen became the Commander of the Defence Forces on 1st August 2019 and he was promoted to General.
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National capabilities strengthen the EU’s security Europe’s safety and security is the responsibility of every Member State. With PESCO, the members have, among other things, agreed to regularly increase their defence expenditure. Finland participates in guaranteeing Europe’s safety and security by continuously developing its own defence. Threats can be deterred by maintaining and developing capabilities suitable for the requirements of the operating environment, and being ready and able to
