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Timo Kivinen, Helsinki Finland promotes an EU defence cooperation Make European forces more operational
Finland promotes an EU defence cooperation
by General Timo Kivinen, Chief of Defence, Finland, Helsinki
Finland 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.
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
photo: MOD Helsinki
give and receive international assistance. The wartime strength of the Finnish Defence Forces is one of the largest in Europe. Finland creates common security with a solution based on general conscription, combining high-end capabilities and a large reserve. However, security and safety are not guaranteed with military capabilities alone, but with multidisciplinary national cooperation. Comprehensive security is a Finnish operating model reaching back over 50 years, which relies on inter-agency cooperation between different authorities. It is still used today to respond to modern security and safety challenges that affect all of society. The Finnish Defence Forces are one part of this entity. Finland also contributes to Europe’s security by participating in the EU’s military and training missions, and by providing troops to the Union for these operations. Currently, Finland participates in EUNAVFOR MED – OPERATION SOPHIA in the Mediterranean and in the training missions in Mali and Somalia. Finland also prepares to use other capabilities of the Finnish Defence Forces, according to political decisions, in operations executed within the EU framework. Additionally, we have been a part of the EU Battle Groups since 2006. In 2020, we are contributing an armoured reconnaissance unit and Headquarter (HQ) staff for the 2020 German-led Battle Group standby period.
Digitalisation and artificial intelligence in defence Finland holds the Presidency of the Council of the EU for the latter half of 2019. Finland’s third Presidency coincides with an important time for the Union, since Finland will be the first country of the Presidency to implement the focus areas of the 2019-2024 Strategic Agenda into the practical work of the Council. The focus areas of the Finnish Presidency are tightly linked to the new Strategic Agenda. Our priorities are: • the strengthening of common values and the principle of the rule of law; • a more competitive and socially intact Union; • strengthening the EU’s position as a global climate leader; • ensuring the comprehensive security of citizens. Two special themes have been named for the field of defence during this Presidency: digitalisation and artificial intelligence in defence, and as a topic encompassing the whole of government, responding to hybrid threats. Both themes focus on partnerships, particularly the cooperation between the European Union and NATO, and the European Union and the United States. The themes have been carefully selected, paying special attention to their potential and importance in the future. Addressing both themes is absolutely necessary for all Member States. Finland’s goal is that the work on the special themes will continue in the different institutions of the EU during the next Presidencies too. To boost discussion on digitalisation and artificial intelligence in defence, Finland, together with Estonia, France, Germany and the Netherlands, has written a Food for Thought paper on the topic. The events and meetings of this Presidency will include discussions on the possibilities and effects of digitalisation and artificial intelligence on the development of military capabilities, while also taking the ethical and legal perspectives into account. However, discussions are merely the first step. Europe has to be at the forefront of development, which also requires concrete action in the future. No single EU Member State can be successful alone in the global competition, but with cooperation we can develop capabilities for the future and strengthen common security.
Implementing previously set goals During its Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Finland strives to ensure the effective implementation of previously set goals, and to continue and promote active strategic conversations. The goal is to advance the connections and coherence among different defence initiatives. The EU must develop its security and defence cooperation to protect its citizens and to strengthen the EU as a provider of security in a challenging security environment. Europe must do more for its own security.
