A delegation of CoE visits Finland for high-level engagements 

On 27-28 February 2023 a CoE delegation including two Finnish seconded Senior Advisors, Antti Häikiö and Taina Järvinen and led by Founding Director Dr Jacoby, visited Helsinki for a series of high-level meetings at the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Interior and the Crisis Management Centre Finland (CMC).  The two-day visit, which was part of the CoE’s active outreach towards its members, underlined the close relationship between the CoE and Finland and built upon State Secretary Johanna Sumuvuori‘s and Director-General Laura Yli-Vakkuri's respective visits to the CoE last year. 

The first meeting was held at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, where the CoE Founding Director and his team had a constructive discussion with State Secretary Johanna Sumuvuori, followed by a meeting with Minna Laajava, Director of the Unit for General Security Policy; Markus Teir, Team Leader for Security Policy and Crisis Management and Max Hatvala, Desk Officer for Civilian Crisis Management. The potential role that the CoE could play once the new Civilian CSDP Compact is agreed upon, including in facilitating the agreement on a civilian capability development process, was discussed among other civilian CSDP specific topics. 

Following the visit at the MFA, a meeting took place at the Ministry of Interior, with the Director-General Laura Yli-Vakkuri, Head of International Affairs Unit, Chief Specialist Aaro Suonio and Senior Specialist Meeri-Maria Jaarva from the International Affairs Unit. Continuing and strengthening Civilian CSDP-Justice and Home Affairs cooperation in the new Compact and throughout its implementation phase was one of the key topics, with a special focus on the Finnish experiences of  cooperation and coordination among relevant ministries and agencies  involved in civilian crisis management. . 

The CoE delegation concluded their trip with a visit to Crisis Management Centre (CMC) Finland for a meeting with Kirsi Henriksson, Director of CMC Finland; Jari Mustonen, Head of HR and Operations; Kinga Dévényi, Head of Training; and Jyrki Ruohomäki, Head of Research. During the meeting, CoE Founding Director Dr Jacoby presented CoE activities including the upcoming Civilian CSDP Summer Forum that will take place in Stockholm in June.