Senior Specialist Kosti Honkanen

1. Who are you?

I am Kosti Honkanen, currently working as a Senior Officer for Legal Affairs in the Legal Unit of the Administrative Policy Department of the Ministry of Defence. I have a Master of Laws degree from the University of Helsinki. I was born and raised in Helsinki, and now live in Kallio. I would describe myself as a person who likes interesting things.

2. What’s your job profile like?

My job involves drafting and enacting laws and decrees, and providing legal advice. It includes gathering and processing large amounts of information. It also requires digging deep into complex and wide-ranging matters, which I need to understand and internalise in order to formulate an informed analysis.

In 2019, I was in charge of the preparations involved in the drafting of the Act on Military Intelligence. Since the entry into force of the Act on Military Intelligence, I have carried out oversight and audit of legality in military intelligence. These activities involve decision-making, argumentation, and interpretation of the law. Oversight and audit of legality in military intelligence is a continuous activity, with an oversight report published annually.

What makes the defence administration so interesting is the way it is connected and interfaced with society at large. For instance, acts on the safe handling and storage of chemicals, explosives and waste affect people and organisations across multiple sectors. Similarly, my work often involves an international dimension. Right now, I’m working on international agreements related to cooperation between Finland and Sweden.

3. How did you come to work at the Ministry of Defence?

After I had finished my Master’s degree, I wondered which career path to choose. The private sector seemed a bit too conservative for my liking, so I ended up applying for a job in government, and was appointed to a fixed-term position at the Ministry of Defence.

The Ministry was much more relaxed than I had expected, and I was pleasantly surprised that I didn’t have to cut my hair, for instance. I am a researcher by nature, so I was quickly engrossed in interesting topics. My fixed-term contracts were extended, and eventually a new position opened up at the Ministry, which I was fortunate enough to fill. I’ve been working here for the past eleven years.

When I was a student, I didn’t really consider the central government as a potential employer. I completed studies in public administration pretty quickly, and focused more on private law, things like property law and the securities markets. My Master’s thesis was about financing arrangements – a far cry from central government. Because I was exempted from military service, it wasn’t until my traineeship at the Ministry that I really came in contact with national defence themes.

I think my background has actually been an asset: I have a fresh perspective on the defence administration and I can question some issues that may have escaped the attention of long-serving employees.

4. What kind of matters are now topical in your work? 

Highest on my list of priorities is learning more about a recent project on cyber defence to be launched in Finland. Because of my work, I constantly have my finger on the pulse, and it is exciting to be among the first to know about things that make the news headlines.

One of the legislative drafting projects I am currently involved in is the drafting of the act on the vehicles of the Defence Forces. It is a much-needed act, because the new Vehicles Act adopted by Parliament largely applies to standard vehicles in consumer markets. The Defence Forces own many special vehicles, so it is our task to enact legislation that accounts for them, too. The preparation of the act began in spring 2021, and the aim is to complete the work by the end of the year.

The Act on Military Intelligence remains topical, and is often under media scrutiny. The act raised extensive discussion and required amendments to the Constitution. The Finnish military intelligence act is a topical matter even on the European level, and is special in the sense that Finland is very strict about the protection of privacy and has very precise legislation in the matter. In fact, the Act has attracted interest among my international colleagues.  

5. How has the work culture in the Ministry of Defence changed during your career?

Since I joined the Legal Unit, it has grown quite a bit. In terms of the working culture, I’d say that the Ministry of Defence is now more relaxed about the way we work. The coronavirus pandemic forced employees to switch to remote work, giving them more latitude. Before the pandemic, people were somewhat reserved about remote work, but now it is seen simply as an alternative to in-office work. Remote work has given employees more flexibility in their working hours, and it has increased trust between supervisors and employees. Now, you can work wherever and whenever you want, as long as you produce the desired results.

The more liberal working culture is also reflected in our external appearance. Before, the dress code of a government official did not include jeans, and dressing more formally was considered a gesture of respect towards the Ministry. Today, a more casual style is allowed, and you no longer need to wear a suit to prove that you are skilled and competent.

6. What is the best thing about your job?

Legislative drafting is extremely interesting! There are so many great things about my job – variety, independence, and the opportunity to grow professionally and closely follow a wide range of topics. I like the fact that work is like a never-ending game. Nothing is ever completely finished; instead, we must be able to adapt to and embrace change. You have to accept that you will never produce a perfect or final result, and be happy with good enough. It is great to be able to use my expertise in these kinds of tasks.

7. Describe your workplace with a few words

The Legal Unit is a broad-minded and diverse work community. For a ministry, the Ministry of Defence is small; it’s like a large family where people work closely together, and you can always knock on another person’s door.