Finland has appointed a parliamentary working group to review the development of national defence in light of NATO membership and the changing security situation in Europe.
According to the Ministry of Defence Finland's press release, the parliamentary working group for defence will commence its work on 27 November 2025 and continue until 30 June 2026. The group will, among other things, analyse threats and challenges in the external environment as well as the need to develop Finland's defence nationally and within NATO.
– Defence is a common concern for all of us, and a broad parliamentary understanding promotes its development, says Jukka Kopra, the group's chairman and Member of Parliament for the National Coalition Party, in the press release.
Earlier this year, Finland committed to NATO's new guidelines that five percent of defence expenditures should be allocated to research, development, and materiel. In addition to the base level in the current budget, Finland plans to invest approximately 6 billion euros in materiel development over the coming decade. Personnel solutions will also be adapted to meet the requirements within NATO's deterrence and defence.
The working group consists of members from all parliamentary parties, with Jari Ronkainen (Finns Party) as vice chairman. The secretary is committee counsellor Heikki Savola from the National Coalition Party. The Ministry of Defence Finland and the Finnish Defence Forces will provide experts to support the group's work.