'Not alarmism, but preparation:' German minister tours Finnish shelter

The rest of Europe must learn from Finland's extensive network of shelters and "rethink" its civil defence planning, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said on Friday during a visit to Helsinki. 

Finland is seen as a model within the European Union for its wide-ranging emergency facilities. The capital, with a population of around 700,000, has shelters with capacity for around 900,000 people, mostly beneath private buildings. 

After touring a large facility in Helsinki's Merihaka district with space for up to 6,000, Wadephul said there was "much we in Europe can learn from this," calling the Finnish approach "not alarmism, but preparation."

"I think we simply need to rethink completely," he added on the second and final day of his visit to the Nordic country.

The shelter, completed in 2003, is 20 metres below ground and offers protection against nuclear and chemical threats. In peacetime, the facility is used by private operators as a sports venue, play area and car park. 

The German foreign minister warned that Russia wants to unsettle and weaken open societies. On a visit to the Vaalimaa border crossing on Finland's border with Russia, which has been closed since the end of 2023, Wadephul said security in Europe can only be achieved by countering Russia. 

Finland joined NATO in April 2023 following Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. The border between the two countries extends for more than 1,300 kilometres, the alliance's longest land border with Russia. 

Addressing calls from business leaders and politicians for a swift resumption of trade with Russia following an eventual peace deal in Ukraine, Wadephul said: "All of these are dreams one can have. But realpolitik demands a different approach."