Reforming Emergency Practices in Finland

The Emergency Powers Act regulates the application of emergency powers in Finland. It is central to Finnish preparedness for emergencies. The Act has been consistently amended and reformed ever since its enactment in 1991, though it was applied for the first time only during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Government plans to issue its proposal for the Act’s reform in August 2026; a committee report on the matter has now been published. While the report’s draft proposal for the Act includes improvements to checks and balances, the declaration procedure remains underdeveloped.