Finland plans to send conscripts abroad without consent

Finland’s government plans to allow conscripts to be sent abroad for training without their consent, as part of a broader overhaul of the country’s defence laws, Yle reports.

The draft would allow conscripts and reservists attending refresher training to take part in exercises or training in nearby areas, including Sweden, Norway and the Baltic Sea region. The activities would have to be directly related to Finland’s defence. In exceptional circumstances, training could be held in another country for safety reasons.

The proposal would also allow reservists who agree to serve to take temporary posts in the Finnish Defence Forces for NATO land-force duties, including in NATO’s rapid-response forces. Employers would have to allow them to take up to two years away from work over a five-year period for these assignments.

Finland has not taken part in NATO peacetime land-force duties or readiness rotations because it has lacked suitable personnel. The draft proposes using reservists in temporary posts. Finland’s air force and navy have taken part in NATO peacetime duties with paid personnel.

Chancellor of Justice raises constitutional concerns

The Chancellor of Justice has questioned whether sending conscripts abroad without their consent is consistent with the constitution. The constitution prohibits sending Finnish citizens abroad against their will, and consent has previously been sought from those sent overseas.

The Chancellor of Justice also said the Constitutional Law Committee should at least consider the issue, noting that the committee has held that the duty of national defence does not cover international tasks. The draft’s definition of the areas where training could take place should also be more precise, the Chancellor said.

Under the proposal, the employment terms of Defence Forces staff sent abroad would be set by law and decree rather than negotiated through the usual process between the employer and employee organisations. Trade unions oppose setting the terms this way, while agreeing that Finland should meet its NATO commitments.

The maximum number of refresher-training days would rise to 200 for all conscripts. The current limit ranges from 80 to 200 days, depending on the role. The government’s proposal is still being revised in light of responses to the draft and is due to be submitted to Parliament in November.