Towards a Baltic Sea Region Strategy in Critical ... - Helsinki.fi

CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION IN THE BALTIC SEA REGION
One could claim that the Finnish approach or definition of ‘vital functions’ (Table
5) is more comprehensive than the EU’s CIP definition. The SSFVS states that
“the aim of securing the vital functions of society is to safeguard the country’s
independence, preserve security in society and maintain the livelihood of the
population.” As we have seen, the EU strategy focused on “those physical and
information technology facilities, networks, services and assets which, if disrupted
or destroyed, would have a serious impact on the health, safety, security or
economic well-being of citizens or the effective functioning of governments”. The
Finnish approach focuses on the functions themselves rather than infrastructures
that support them. Thus, the Finnish vital sectors are more or less the same as the
EU’s – especially in the areas dealing with the ‘functioning of the economy and
infrastructure’ and ‘the population’s income security and capability to function’ –
but the main emphasis is on the functioning of society and government in all
circumstances, not only in the protection of its critical infrastructures against
extreme events. Hence one could say that Finland’s approach is much more based
on ‘resilience’ – a concept discussed in more detail below – than protection.
The Estonian concept of ‘sectors of vital importance’ (Table 6) resembles the
Finnish model, though it is simpler, and is so far expressed only as a part of the
country’s National Security Concept. 17 Moreover, in a more recent government
document on the “Fundamentals of Counter-terrorism in Estonia” (2007, Art. 3.6),
which includes a sub-section “Protection of Objects under High Risk of Attack and
Critical Infrastructure”, the definition of CIP seems to be much more restricted and
more in line with the EU approach.
Table I—6 Estonia’s sectors of vital importance.
Sectors of vital importance
Consolidating the rule of law
Enhancing internal security
Strengthening economic,
social, and environmental
security
Sub-sectors
The activities of security agencies
Maintaining law and order
Ensuring border security and
migration control
Crisis management and emergency
services
Strengthening economic security
Enhancing social safety
Enhancing environmental safety
17 “National Security Concept of the Republic of Estonia” (2004, Ch. 4) includes a chapter
“Protecting constitutional order and sectors of vital importance ensuring public safety“,
summarised in Table 6.
22 NORDREGIO REPORT 2007:5