Broad overview of Baltic Sea security at MSP Day

Maritime areas play a key role in maintaining Finland’s security of supply. The majority of Finland’s imports arrive by sea, and therefore the daily functioning of our society is largely dependent on the security of maritime transport connections. Other maritime industries also play a significant role and have the potential to support our self-sufficiency. These themes, among others, were explored in depth during the MSP Day organised by the Maritime Spatial Planning Coordination Group. 

MSP holds a challenging role amid many uncertainties  

Many uncertainties related to the current global security landscape are making it difficult to also plan for the future in the Baltic Sea region. The day began with a session organized by the Maritime Spatial Planning Coordination Group, which focused on this challenge through security scenarios. The scenarios presented were produced earlier this year as part of a study on the security of supply in maritime industries and overall maritime security. During the session, commentaries from fisheries, energy, and maritime transport representatives were heard on the scenarios. 

”It was great to have sector representatives join us to comment on the scenarios and their potential impacts on their activities. The report is valuable material for our ongoing work, but the scenarios also serve as a starting point for discussion with the sectors – how can maritime spatial planning support a shared vision for maritime safety?” commented Essi Kärpijoki, coordinator of maritime spatial planning cooperation.  

In their remarks, sector representatives stressed the need for cross-policy discussion on security of supply issues, the critical role of maritime transport for our entire society, the role of the domestic fishing industry in crisis situations, as well as the need for cooperation with Sweden, particularly with regard to energy sufficiency. 

Kimmo Nepola (Fingrid), Heikki Lehtinen (MMM) and Maarit Mikkelsson (Traficom) acted as commentators in the session organised by the Maritime Spatial Planning Coordination Group. Frank Hering (Regional Council of Kymenlaakso) moderated the session.

Russia leverages global streams to its advantage  

The second session, organized jointly by Cowup and WATERWAYS, delved into Russia’s war and hybrid influence, environmental risks, new ways of utilizing data and modeling, as well as the legal perspective on security threats in maritime areas. The multifaceted session focused broadly on the security situation in the Baltic Sea and the preparedness requirements it poses. 

The research-oriented session featured three expert presentations and a lively panel discussion that also engaged the audience. A picture was painted at the beginning of the session of Russia’s diverse ways of exercising power on the global stage; dependence on fossil fuels, hindering the green transition, spreading fear, and deliberately operating on the borderline between legality and illegality are just a few examples.  

An important theme emphasized was that we need cooperation with other countries and joint action to combat and respond to security threats, despite the fact that norm-based cooperation is actively challenged in the current situation. 

A joint session by the Cowup and WATERWAYS projects featured a panel discussion on threats posed by Russia in the Baltic Sea.

Thriving coastal communities support resilience 

Maritime spatial planning is carried out hand in hand with the Ministry of the Environment’s Coastal Strategy promotion. To strengthen synergies between the processes, the Coastal Strategy will continue to be visible in both of the annual maritime spatial planning stakeholder events open to all: the MSP webinar in June and the MSP Days in November. 

The last session of the day delved into the measures of the coastal strategy and the role of coastal communities in overall security. The session, led by the Ministry of the Environment, also served as a forum for good practices, thus implementing one of the strategy’s actions. The session featured a wide range of brief presentations from different actors operating in coastal areas who promote the objectives outlined in the Coastal Strategy, such as a thriving coastal environment, securing sufficient energy supplies, and preparing for crises.  

We have now come to the end of a year filled with stakeholder interaction. We want to give warm thanks to all the presenters and session organisers at the MSP Day! 

Take a look at the MSP Day 2025 presentations: 

Session 1

• Kolme vaihtoehtoista merialueen tulevaisuusskenaariota huoltovarmuuden ja turvallisuuden näkökulmasta – Justus Joenaalto, Capful 

Session 2

• Venäjän hybridiväkivalta ja Itämeri – Veli-Pekka Tynkkynen, Helsingin yliopisto 

• Itämeren uudet uhat – oikeudellisia näkökohtia varjolaivastosta ja merenalaisen infran sabotaasista – Henrik Ringbom, Åbo Akademi 

• Meriliikenteen ympäristöpaineet Itämerellä – Mitä meiltä jää näkemättä? – Jukka-Pekka Jalkanen, Ilmatieteen laitos 

 Session 3

• Hyvinvoiva rannikkoluonto – Louise Forsblom, Syke 

• Hyvinvoiva rannikkoyhteisö – Julia Ajanko, Saaristomeren Unesco biosfäärialue / Suomen saaret ry 

• Energian riittävyyden turvaaminen – Leena Arpiainen, MMM 

• Ruoan riittävyyden turvaaminen – Markus Kankainen, Luke 

• Kestävä maankäyttö ja rakentaminen – Kaisa Leino, Kymenlaakson liitto 

• Saavutettavuuden parantaminen – Lasse Laine, Traficom 

• Poikkeustilanteisiin varautuminen – Anni Lippo ja Justiina Halonen, XAMK 

• Kokonaisvaikutusten arvioinnin kehittäminen – Elisa Lähde, Aalto-yliopisto 

Presentations available here (in Finnish): MSP-päivä 2025 – Huoltovarmuus ja kokonaisturvallisuus