The Finnish Border Guard (Rajavartiolaitos) confirmed on 29 October 2025 that it will begin the accession process to the European Gendarmerie Force (EUROGENDFOR), a rapid-deployment pool of militarily organised law-enforcement agencies from EU member states. The partnership will make Finland the first Nordic country to link formally with EUROGENDFOR and will grant Helsinki access to a standing force of around 800 officers that can be scaled up to 2,300 within 30 days. According to the Border Guard’s statement, the primary aim is to secure an additional layer of support in the event of “serious border-security disruptions,” including large-scale irregular migration or hostile hybrid activities.
EUROGENDFOR was created in 2006 by France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands and Romania to provide police-type capabilities in crisis situations both inside and outside the EU. For Finland, the move reflects a broader tightening of eastern-border controls that began after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and has since included a partial border fence, prolonged closure of all eight land crossing points, and recurring Frontex deployments. By becoming a partner rather than a full member, Finland retains command of its own forces while gaining the right to request detachments, participate in joint training and share intelligence.
Operationally, the cooperation gives the Border Guard a fast-track mechanism for bringing in linguistically and technically skilled personnel to reinforce its 3,800-strong service. This is significant because the agency’s own contingency plan assumes it may need hundreds of additional officers within days if a mass-arrival scenario materialises on the 1,340-kilometre eastern frontier. EUROGENDFOR units are trained in crowd control, border surveillance, criminal investigations and cyber-forensics—skills that complement the Border Guard’s remit without overlapping with the Finnish Defence Forces.
For Finnish companies that post staff to border regions or rely on cross-border logistics, the announcement offers some reassurance that any sudden security incident is less likely to paralyse freight flows or passenger traffic. The agreement also increases the likelihood that Schengen travel disruptions—such as ad hoc ID checks or temporary closures—will be shorter in duration, because extra manpower can be mobilised quickly.
Next steps include a legal compatibility review by the Ministry of the Interior and parliamentary briefing during the winter session. If legislators give a green light, Finland could sign a partnership protocol in early 2026, after which joint exercises would begin. Businesses with cross-border operations should monitor forthcoming implementation guidelines, particularly on how EUROGENDFOR deployments may affect customs procedures at designated crossing points.
EUROGENDFOR was created in 2006 by France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands and Romania to provide police-type capabilities in crisis situations both inside and outside the EU. For Finland, the move reflects a broader tightening of eastern-border controls that began after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and has since included a partial border fence, prolonged closure of all eight land crossing points, and recurring Frontex deployments. By becoming a partner rather than a full member, Finland retains command of its own forces while gaining the right to request detachments, participate in joint training and share intelligence.
Operationally, the cooperation gives the Border Guard a fast-track mechanism for bringing in linguistically and technically skilled personnel to reinforce its 3,800-strong service. This is significant because the agency’s own contingency plan assumes it may need hundreds of additional officers within days if a mass-arrival scenario materialises on the 1,340-kilometre eastern frontier. EUROGENDFOR units are trained in crowd control, border surveillance, criminal investigations and cyber-forensics—skills that complement the Border Guard’s remit without overlapping with the Finnish Defence Forces.
For Finnish companies that post staff to border regions or rely on cross-border logistics, the announcement offers some reassurance that any sudden security incident is less likely to paralyse freight flows or passenger traffic. The agreement also increases the likelihood that Schengen travel disruptions—such as ad hoc ID checks or temporary closures—will be shorter in duration, because extra manpower can be mobilised quickly.
Next steps include a legal compatibility review by the Ministry of the Interior and parliamentary briefing during the winter session. If legislators give a green light, Finland could sign a partnership protocol in early 2026, after which joint exercises would begin. Businesses with cross-border operations should monitor forthcoming implementation guidelines, particularly on how EUROGENDFOR deployments may affect customs procedures at designated crossing points.
