Defence minister rejects six property purchase applications

Finland’s defence minister has rejected six applications by buyers from outside the EU and European Economic Area to purchase property, Yle reports. The properties are in Kotka, Viitasaari, Miehikkälä and Imatra, and the decisions are not yet final.

In the Kotka case, the Ministry of Defence said the purchase could threaten national security or security of supply. The decision was made under legislation governing permits for certain property acquisitions.

The rejections concerning properties in Viitasaari, Miehikkälä and Imatra followed the applicants’ failure to provide information or additional details requested by the ministry, despite reminders. Those decisions cite the same property acquisition law and the Administrative Procedure Act.

The applicants in the Kotka, Viitasaari and Miehikkälä cases were citizens of Russia, Montenegro and Israel. In Imatra, the applicant was a company registered in Italy and owned by an entity from outside the EU and EEA.