Projects and legislation The legal framework for military defence, in other words the laws and presidential decrees, government decrees and Ministry of Defence decrees are prepared in the Ministry. The Legal Unit is for the main part responsible f...

4.6.2026 | On 4 June 2026, the Finnish Government, based on Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen’s presentation, submitted to Parliament a government proposal for reforming the legislation on military intelligence.

9.7.2026 | The Finnish Government has appointed Anu Nousiainen, M.Sc. (Admin.), as Director General of the Administration Policy Department at the Ministry of Defence for a five-year term from 1 October 2026 to 31 September 2031.

Senior Officer for Legal Affairs Anna Gau 2.3.2023 13.17 Blog 1. Who are you? I am Anna Gau and I work as a Senior Officer for Legal Affairs at the Legal Unit of the Administration Policy Department. I have a Master of Laws degree from the Univers...

Senior Specialist Kosti Honkanen 30.9.2021 15.46 Blog 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 Maste...

Return to page Areas of expertise Conscription system and military training The Finnish Defence Forces trains those liable for military service for homeland defence tasks. This training is called the conscript service. All 18–65-year-old Finnish m...

Press releases and news Publication date: 09.07.2026 Anu Nousiainen appointed Director General of Administration Policy Department at Finland’s Ministry of Defence The Finnish Government has appointed Anu Nousiainen, M.Sc. (Admin.), as Director Ge...

18.6.2026 | The Ministry of Defence is requesting views on a bill for amendments to the Act on Military Intelligence. The bill proposes that the Act on Military Intelligence allow the use of certain intelligence collection methods in premises used for permanent residence.

Return to page Areas of expertise Voluntary national defence Voluntary national defence and the coordination of voluntary national defence measures in various administrative sectors fall within the purview of the Ministry of Defence. It is the Min...

Return to page Publications Defence Policy Reports Government Defence Report 2024 At its session on 19 December 2024, the Finnish Government approved the Government Defence Report based on Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen’s presentation. The rep...

5.6.2026 | In line with the Government Programme, the Finnish Government will reform the Act on the Screening of Foreign Corporate Acquisitions so that risks relating to national security, security of supply and broad-spectrum threats are taken into account more effectively than at present. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment has sent out for comments a government proposal to reform the legislat...

A permit to non-EU and non-EEA buyers to buy real estate Buyers from outside the EU and EEA will need a permit to buy property in Finland. A permit must be acquired when one of the following parties buys a real estate: A private individual who is ...

Common Security and Defence Policy and defence cooperation in the European Union Defence cooperation in the European Union reinforces the defence capabilities of EU Member States, strengthens the basis of a European defence capability and consolid...

Departments and Units Administration Policy Department Director of Department: Teemu Penttilä The Administration Policy Department of the Ministry of Defence of Finland is responsible for the planning of defence administration operations and finan...

Defence cooperation agreement with the United States In August 2022, Finland decided to start negotiations with the United States on a new bilateral defence cooperation agreement (DCA). The DCA is a binding international agreement that sets forth ...

Privacy statement for pre-emption matters Data Controller Ministry of Defence P.O. Box 31, 00131 Helsinki kirjaamo.plm(at)gov.fi +35829516001 Data Protection Officer Joona Lapinlampi P.O. Box 31, 00131 Helsinki tietosuojavastaava.plm(at)gov.fi Gen...

Privacy statement for monitoring of real estate ownership Data Controller Ministry of Defence P.O. Box 31, 00131 Helsinki kirjaamo.plm(at)gov.fi +35829516001 Data Protection Officer Joona Lapinlampi P.O. Box 31, 00131 Helsinki tietosuojavastaava.p...

15.6.2026 | The Ministry of Defence has published a report on Finland’s exports of defence materiel in 2025. The report provides statistical data on both the granted export licences and actual exports.

Defence materiel and the defence industry Materiel policy and procurements The Ministry of Defence directs materiel policy in the administrative branch and steers key defence materiel projects. The aim of the defence administration's materiel poli...

9.6.2026 | Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen held a speech at the meeting of the Council of Europe’s Committee on Social Inclusion and Human Dignity in Kouvola on 9 June 2026.