Finland and Norway hold exercise on cross-border assistance in crisis situations

Finland and Norway hold exercise on cross-border assistance in crisis situations

Finland and Norway held a preparedness exercise on 15-16 September to prepare for serious accidents, crises and emergencies. The exercise entailed Finland sending medicinal products and medical supplies to Norway in a fictitious crisis scenario. The exercise was related to the EU's shared emergency stockpiles, known as rescEU stockpiles, some of which are located in Finland.

Finland has hosted rescEU stockpiles since 2023, storing supplies such as medicinal products, medical supplies, personal protective equipment and measuring devices. Finland has received a total of EUR 305 million in funding from the European Commission for the establishment of these stockpiles. Emergency stockpiles have also been located in other EU countries, and they are part of the strategic capacities under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.

Joint exercises support Nordic preparedness

"This week's exercise was an excellent opportunity to test the delivery of supplies from the rescEU stockpiles hosted by Finland. In a crisis situation, sending supplies requires seamless cooperation between the country requesting and the country sending assistance and the European Emergency Response Coordination Centre," says Project Manager Ilona Hatakka from the Ministry of the Interior.

Supplies must be ready for delivery within 12 hours of an offer of assistance being accepted.

"It is important that we were able to carry out this exercise in collaboration with the European Commission and our Norwegian colleagues. Exercises focusing on cross-border assistance strengthen preparedness and help identify any practical challenges related to the delivery of medicinal products, for example," says the project's other Project Manager Piia Ollila from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.

In the current global political situation, it is extremely important that the Nordic countries cooperate in preparedness matters.

"Exercising together is vital for our common safety and security. The Nordic countries have a long standing tradition of preparedness cooperation. Especially in the Northern parts of our countries, preparedness resources may be few and far between. A cross border response may be required in dealing with whatever crises hit us, says Norway's exercise coordinator, chief analyst Anders Gundersen, from the Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection (DSB).

Emergency stockpiles help prepare for a wide range of threats

Preparedness for crises also requires seamless cross-administrative cooperation in Finland. The EU emergency stockpiles established here are part of the Finnish rescEU projects, implemented by a consortium of the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, the National Emergency Supply Agency and the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Agency.

The rescEU project consists of two different projects. The rescEU CBRN project stockpiles materials used to prepare for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threats. The rescEU Medical project, in turn, stockpiles medical supplies, medicinal products and radiation meters for major accidents.

This week's exercise was called RescEU Medical Livex, and it was implemented by the rescEU Medical project. The exercise was part of a wider Rescue Borealis 2025 exercise, which will culminate in a field exercise to be held in Oulu between 29 September and 3 October, with participants from Finland, Norway and Sweden.

Inquiries:
Ministry of the Interior: Ilona Hatakka, Project Manager, tel. +358 295 488 224, [email protected]
Ministry of Social Affairs and Health: Piia Ollila, Project Manager, tel. +358 295 163 112, [email protected]
Iina Bister, Communication Specialist, +358 295 163 015, [email protected]
Pharmaceutical Wholesale Service, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL): Iiris Koivisto, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 29 524 8499, [email protected]
National Emergency Supply Agency: Mari Mäkinen, Communications Specialist, tel. +358 29 505 1114
Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK): Media service, tel. +358 10 850 4761