Total Defence

Finnish Blueprint for Europe

Finland is known as a country that takes its security seriously. This report explores Finland’s comprehensive approach to national preparedness which mobilises the entire society to withstand and recover from crises, including war.

Based on interviews with military officials, business leaders, and civil servants, the report offers a first-hand look at how Finland integrates public and private actors into a unified system of resilience.

The opening chapter presents the central challenge facing European policymakers today: how to enhance national resilience in a cost-effective and sustainable way. The chapters that follow examine the Finnish Total 

Defence model, tracing its historical roots and detailing its three core pillars:

• Military Defence

• Public-Private Preparedness

• Nationwide Civil Preparedness

While the report provides an overview of all three pillars, its primary focus is on the role of the private sector in Finland’s defence ecosystem. To illustrate this, it includes two case studies: one featuring Fortum, a majority state-owned energy company, and the other highlighting Destia, a Finnish subsidiary of a publicly listed French multinational. These examples reflect the broader participation of approximately 1,500 companies in Finland’s crisis preparedness system.

This report was made possible through the support and collaboration of the Finnish Defence Forces, National Emergency Supply Agency, the Confederation of Finnish Industries, Fortum, and Destia, all of whom contributed time, insights, and resources.

Prepared for the European Business Leaders’ Northern Light Summit, held in Helsinki from 26 to 28 June 2025, the report is authored by Risto E. J. Penttilä and Juulia Olkkonen of the European Business Leaders’ Convention (EBLC).