The Strategy for Securing the Functions Vital to Society 2006

The Government Resolution on The Strategy for Securing the Functions Vital to Society, for its part, upholds national sovereignty, the security of society and the livelihood of the population in all security situations.

The Strategy takes internationalization as well as changes in the security environment and structures of society into account. It lists and defines society's vital functions, determines their desired end states and assigns strategic tasks to ministries. Society's vital functions are:

Management of state affairs
International activity
National military defence
Internal security
Functioning of the economy and infrastructure
The population's income security and capability to function
Psychological crisis tolerance

The Strategy describes the threats that jeopardize the vital functions and their stability. There are altogether nine threat scenarios, including 61 associated special situations. A competent ministry has been assigned to each special situation for the purposes of preparedness and situation control. Supporting ministries are also designated, if required.

In order to secure society's vital functions, a total of 50 strategic tasks have been assigned to ministries. Each competent ministry includes the resources needed for developing and maintaining the tasks in its operating and financial plans, within the existing spending limits.

Crises jeopardizing our security are managed in accordance with this Resolution and existing statutes. The severity and extent of the situation at hand determines the level at which the state manages and coordinates the crisis. The competent ministry leads the activities and coordinates measures, supported by other ministries. The meetings of permanent secretaries and heads of preparedness, being permanent cooperation bodies, assist the competent ministry. When necessary, the other relevant authorities, companies and organizations are invited to participate in the coordination of measures.

Matters are presented to the Government once the Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy has prepared them. The Prime Minister's Office assists the competent ministry with matters pertaining to the situation picture, premises and communications. The Government Communications Unit supports the competent ministry and coordinates crisis communications.

Building on the previous Resolution, this Strategy lists five focus areas. The focus areas take into account society's progressively growing dependence on technology as well as their extensive intersectoral significance. The focus areas chosen are the state situation management capabilities including the review of powers, health protection, electronic information and communications technologies (ICT), security of energy supply as well as preventing and combating serious environmental accidents.

Each ministry, within its mandate, shall steer and monitor the implementation of tasks and the development of required capabilities related to securing society's vital functions. The Security and Defence Committee, cooperating with the meeting of the heads of preparedness, is responsible for the joint monitoring of the Strategy. The monitoring provides for the updating of the Strategy as well as for coordinating total defence development measures and is based on routinely produced public administration documents.

Society's capability to secure its vital functions is tested in preparedness exercises. They are organized as sector-specific, as limited special situation exercises and as large, nationwide preparedness exercises.

The Security and Defence Committee was responsible for updating the Strategy. All ministries and key civil service departments were represented in the working group that prepared the update. The Resolution replaces the previous Government Resolution, adopted in 2003.

The Strategy for Securing the Functions Vital to Society 2006 (pdf) (756.1 KB)

The Strategy for Securing the Functions Vital to Society 2006

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