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Finland - Peacekeeping

Finland participates in the joint crisis-management operations of the UN, EU and NATO. Finland has put its special knowledge of peacekeeping at the disposal of NATO's Partnership for Peace (PfP) programme. Finland was the first non-NATO country in charge of commanding a brigade (MNB (C)) in a KFOR operation. Finland continues to be one of the largest per capita contributors of peacekeepers in the world. The participation is as following: In Afghanistan: ISAFAt the Balkans: KFOR, EUFOR Althea and UNMIKIn the Middle East: UNTSO in Africa: EUFOR TCHAD/RCA, UNMEE, UNMIL and UNMISIn Asia: UNMOGIP

Finland has taken an active role in United Nations (UN) peacekeeping matters as a means of demonstrating its interest in the maintenance of international peace. Because of their unimpeachable behavior in conformity with Finland's neutral status, Finnish troops have almost invariably been welcomed as elements of UN peacekeeping forces by the parties involved in international crises.

The EU is developing its military crisis management capability by setting up operational politico-military structures and by establishing a pool of forces needed to cover the Petersberg tasks. Finland is taking an active part in the creation of the EU's military crisis management capability. Development of Finland's own national readiness has taken account of the EU's aim of achieving military crisis management capability by the year 2003, which was decided by the Helsinki European Council in 1999. Member States have committed to the EU a forces pool which is approximately 100,000 strong. From this pool the EU may establish crisis management ground forces of a maximum of 60,000 soldiers supported by a naval strength of 100 vessels and an air force of 400 aircraft.

By the late 1980s, some 20,000 Finns had served in UN peacekeeping missions, and by 2001 had deployed a total of about 40,000 peacekeepers in various operations. Within a year after its admission to the UN in 1955, Finland sent a reinforced rifle company of 250 men as part of the UN Emergency Force (UNEF) based in Egypt for service in the Sinai and the Gaza Strip. In 1964 a reinforced battalion with a strength of 1,000 men was attached to the UN Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). It was composed of five light infantry companies and a support company, armed with rifles, machine pistols, light machine guns, mortars, and bazookas. Later Finnish contingents were organized and equipped in similar fashion, with the addition of a vehicle repair unit, a field hospital, and most transport, signal, and housing requirements.

Finnish units served from 1973 to 1979 in a buffer zone between Israel and Egypt in the Suez Canal area as part of the UN Emergency Force II (UNEF II), after which the contingent was transferred to the Golan Heights between Israeli and Syrian forces as part of the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF). Beginning in 1982, a Finnish battalion was assigned to serve with the UN Interim Force (UNIFIL) in southern Lebanon. As of late 1988, about 1,000 members of the Finnish armed forces were serving on peacekeeping missions. In addition to the UNIFIL battalion, they were assigned as cease-fire observers in Cyprus, along the India-Pakistan border, in the Sinai, on the Golan Heights between Israel and Syria, in the Persian Gulf, and in Afghanistan. Finland was also committed to contribute to the UN peacekeeping force to be sent to Namibia.

Decisions on Finland's participation in peacekeeping operations and on terminating such participation are taken by the President of the Republic, on the proposal of the Government. Before such a proposal is made, the Government must consult Parliament. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defence are responsible for political preparation, guidance and supervision concerning military crisis management. Under the revised Peacekeeping Act, the Finnish Defence Forces are responsible for the practical implementation of crisis management.

The funding of Finland's participation in peacekeeping operations is divided between the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defence. The payroll costs of peacekeeping personnel and Finland's membership contribution to the UN's peacekeeping budget are met from the main budget division of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, while the costs of equipment and material and participation in military observer operations are met from the main budget division of the Ministry of Defence. Funding for each new operation is arranged separately.