Finland Times

A man picked up a new passport from R-kiosk postal service in Espoo on May 15, 2013. Photo – Lehtikuva.

The Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy on Thursday decided that the issue of dual nationality in positions and duties critical to the national security should be scrutinised.

The committee also took the view that positions and duties critical to the national security in instances where dual nationality might lead to a conflict of loyalty should be examined.

Ministry of the Interior Permanent Secretary Päivi Nerg told news agency STT that the possible cases of conflict of loyalty would be narrowed down mostly to those positions and duties that require one to have Finnish citizenship.

It was reported in August that Finland might be exploring the possibility of becoming more stringent on the criteria for awarding dual citizenship.

 

Apparently the need to toughen the criteria for dual citizen is linked to the increased number of Russian nationals awarded with Finnish citizenship.

 

Currently around 20,000 Russian nationals who have Finnish citizenship live in the country.

At that time it was also reported that the practice of awarding dual citizenship might be scrapped all together.

 

The cabinet committee also discussed the situation in Ukraine following the parliamentary elections held in Ukraine on October 26, said an official press release.

 

Finland considers Ukraine’s parliamentary elections to be an important step for the country’s democracy. The election result gives Ukraine an opportunity to continue on its self-chosen path, the committee observed.

Poroshenko, president of the country, its new parliament and the government to be formed, will need the full support of the international community in efforts to resolve the conflict in eastern Ukraine and in implementing social reforms, the committee said in a press release.

 

Fighting in the conflict areas in eastern Ukraine continues and Russia has not fulfilled all the conditions of the Minsk ceasefire agreement, mentioned the committee, adding that implementation of the Minsk agreement in all respects and by all parties is essential.

In accordance with the policy previously outlined, Finland will participate in the EU’s Nordic Battle Group in 2015. The committee decided that Finland will place a helicopter detachment, around 70 soldiers, in a state of high readiness as part of the standby period of the EU Battle Group, comprising Sweden, Finland, Norway, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia and Ireland, from January 1 to June 30, 2015. The Battle Group’s total strength is around 2,500 soldiers.

The helicopter detachment in question, four NH90 helicopters, will be part of the Battle Group’s aviation detachment. The Finnish force will consist of an army helicopter detachment and necessary support elements as well as officers appointed to the Battle Group’s staff. The helicopter detachment will be responsible for medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) duties, said the press release.