Finland Times

The minister made the remarks while visiting the Uusimaa Brigade.

Haglund said it is unrealistic for the country to take responsibility as the leading nation, revealing that the decision was made in December.

The EU rapid reaction battle groups were established in the past decade for crisis management but have never been put to use, not even once.

The country examined the possibility of taking charge of leading the EU battle groups in 2018.

Over a year ago, Haglund and Jyrki Katainen, the then prime minister, assessed that taking the responsibility of leadership would develop the country’s own defence and improve the country’s crisis management capabilities substantially.

But, according to Haglund, the benefits and the costs do not correspond to each other.