My Oulu: Rescue Borealis exercise boosted Europe’s preparedness for security threats
Finland’s Minister of Interior Mari Rantanen, EU Commissioner Hadja Lhabib and Sweden’s Minister of Civil Defence Carl-Oskar Bohlin inspected a CBRN training container in the Port of Oulu. Photo: Kari Arontie / Ministry of the Interior of Finland
Jaa sosiaalisessa mediassa:
The heightened security situation highlights the need for preparedness in both the Baltic Sea and Euro-Arctic regions. This was the key message from the international Rescue Borealis 2025 field exercise held in Oulu this week.
EU Commissioner responsible for preparedness, Hadja Lahbib, personally observed the exercise in Oulu and praised both the seamless cooperation among participants and the interoperability of the EU’s rescEU reserves.
”It is crystal clear that Europe must urgently strengthen both civilian and military readiness – and this is exactly what we are doing right now”, the Commissioner Lahbib stated.
The RescEU Stockpiles are EU-funded strategic resources that can be deployed in major emergencies.
”Here in Finland, you are pioneers in preparedness and you lead by example. Anticipation and readiness are in your DNA, part of the very fabric of your society”, she continued.
Lahbib also underlined that geographical borders no longer offer a reliable shield. Hostile actions can extend far beyond national frontiers, targeting societies through cyberattacks, disinformation, interference in democratic processes and even sabotage.
Rescue Borealis exercise focused on the Euro-Arctic cross-border cooperation involving rescue services in Finland, Sweden and Norway. Photo: Kari Arontie / Ministry of the Interior of Finland
Over 600 participants trained with EU strategic capacities, including Finland’s rescEU CBRN stockpiles, Germany’s CBRN decontamination line, and Norway’s patient evacuation capacity. Professionals from Sweden, Norway, Germany, and Finland trained together in Oulu during the exercise.
Sweden’s Minister of Civil Defence, Carl-Oskar Bohlin, admitted that his country is working to raise its level of preparedness to match Finland’s. In his view, Europe must adopt an all-hazard approach and be ready to exercise against every possible scenario.
“When you exercise, you explore your own vulnerabilities so that you can catch them up. So that you make a system that works better next time. You’ll get a muscle memory within your own organisation in what you are trying to achieve”, minister Bohlin says.
He also highlighted the importance of cooperation.
“Getting to know each other is crucial. These are strategic resources at the EU level, but true capability emerges only when we can work together across sectors and across borders”, Bohlin stated.
The Exercise tested also Finland’s rescue command system and Finland’s ability to receive international assistance. In addition, Police forces from several European countries practiced victim identification in a large-scale CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, or Nuclear) scenario.
Finland is a frontline country
Finland’s Minister of Interior Mari Rantanen emphasized that Finland’s own preparedness also requires development and investment. As a frontline country, Finland has special needs and responsibilities. We prepare through the actions of various security authorities—on land, at sea, and in the air.
“Russia’s actions constantly remind us that the security environment has fundamentally changed. Crisis preparedness by civilian authorities and the whole society must be ensured alongside military preparedness”, Rantanen emphasized in the Press Conference of the Rescue Borealis exercise.
“Cooperation is key in addressing today’s increasingly complex and cross-border threats. Rescue Borealis is a concrete step in strengthening preparedness and rescue collaboration at local, national, and international levels”, Minister Rantanen says.
Participants included Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, National Emergency Supply Agency, Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, Police, Border Guard, Customs, Emergency Response Centre Agency, Emergency Services Academy, Defence Forces, North Ostrobothnia Wellbeing Services County, North Ostrobothnia Rescue Department, Oulu University Hospital, City of Oulu, Port of Oulu, and Stora Enso.