State administration preparedness exercise started

A national preparedness exercise of the state administration (VALHA 15-16) has started. The purpose of the exercise is to prepare the administration and the state leadership for collaboration required in serious incidents and emergencies. The main theme of the exer-cise is contingency planning for hybrid threats.

The exercise is carried out in three phases. The first phase was an induction to the new Government. In the autumn, the government and various officials will work on procedures in modules combined by subject area. The third phase will be carried out in early 2016 as an applied exercise between the top leadership and the ministries.

At central government level, all ministries, the Office of the President of the Republic and the Office of the Chancellor of Justice will take part in the exercise. Preparations are coordinated by the Security Committee.

Inquiries: State Under-Secretary Timo Lankinen, tel. +358 295 160 300 and Jari Ylitalo, Director of Government Security, tel. +358 295 160 100, Prime Minister's Office and Vesa Virtanen, General Secretary, tel. +358 295 140 700, Secretariat of the Security Committee.

English translation of the press release published on 8 June 2015