The Nordic conference 2025 took place 22.9.-24.9. in Kuopio. The theme of the conference was Nordic co-operation in the new world order - Eastern element from the perspective of security and preparedness.
The greetings of the City of Kuopio were presented by Member of Parliament, Vice Chair of ABDI, City Council of Kuopio and Chair of the Regional Council of Pohjois-Savo,
Tuula Väätäinen. Member of Parliament
Jarno Limnéll, Chair of ABDI, gave the opening speech at the conference.
The following presentations were given on Monday:
NATO, the European Union and Nordic cooperation networks in the North-East European Defence Forces, Director General
Janne Kuusela Ministry of Defence
Reorganisation of security policy in Northern Europe,
Iro Särkkä, Senior Research Fellow at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs
On hybrid threats against Europe,
Tapio Pyysalo, Head of International relations at the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid threats Hybrid CoE
On Tuesday, the speeches were put into practice:
Situation at the eastern border, Commander of the North Karelia border Guard District, Colonel
Matti Pitkäniitty (slides
here)
Reservists in North Savo,
Simo Jääskeläinen, Member of the Board of Directors of the Reservier District of North Savo
In addition, a visit was made to the Karelian Air Command. The visit was be hosted by Colonel
Tomi Böhm, Commander of the Air Command.
The following presentations were given after the visit:
North Savo comprehensive Security cluster, project Leader, PhD
Harriet Lonka (slides
here)
Preparation of the Centre of Excellence for comprehensive Security, Colonel (Evangelical Lutheran)
Asko Muhonen, Senior Specialist, City of Kuopio (slides
here)
The presentations were followed by a panel discussion focusing on views on society's overall preparedness and security and its different levels in Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark as well as on Nordic cooperation. The panel was attended by
Monica K. Mattsson Kämpe (Secretary General, Folk og Forsvar, Norway),
Hanna Waerland-Fager, (Senior civilian Scientist, Embassy of Sweden in Helsinki, Sweden) and
Thorbjørn Nesjan, (Member of the Board, Folk & Sikkerhed and Head of the International Division, Denmark). The speeches and discussion were moderated by
Harriet Lonka, PhD.
At the end of the day, we heard the greeting of
Soile Lahti, Mayor of Kuopio, at the City Hall.
Presentations on Wednesday:
Presentation of the Emergency services College, including the training Centre, Director of Education
Minna Hirvonen
Business life in the field of comprehensive security, CEO
Paula Aikio-Tallgren, Federation of Finnish enterprises in Savo
Police operations in Eastern Finland, Police Chief
Samppa Holopainen, Eastern Finland Police Department
Concluding remarks, Vice-Chair of ABDI, Member of Parliament
Tuula Väätäinen
Wednesday also included a visit to the most modern dual-use population shelter in Northern Europe in Savilahti
Pictures:
