Finland delivered assistance from EU emergency stockpile to Ukraine

Finland has for the first time delivered assistance from an EU-funded rescEU stockpile to a country that has requested assistance. The two truckloads of personal protective equipment and chemical detectors were delivered to Ukraine in early January to respond to the needs of the country’s rescue services.

The delivery from the rescEU stockpile hosted by Finland included both multiple-use items and items that are for single use for hygiene and safety reasons. Ukraine can use the supplies to respond to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) emergencies. Ukraine did not make the request for assistance due to any sudden rise in the CBRN threat level, but to improve preparedness. The party responsible for sending and transporting the materials to Ukraine was the National Emergency Supply Agency (NESA).

“The delivered materials were selected according to Ukraine’s request. Massive amounts of all Ukrainian resources have been consumed by almost three years of war, and the consumption of CBRN equipment is high during wartime. The delivered materials will strengthen the capacity of Ukrainian rescue services to detect and defend against CBRN threats. Supporting rescue services will also help the civilian population to cope with the war,” says Director of the Operations Department Jaakko Pekki from the NESA.

rescEU stockpiles are shared EU reserves

The EU established two rescEU stockpiles in Finland between 2023 and 2024. Of these, rescEU CBRN provides items for detecting, preventing and protecting people against CBRN threats and hazardous situations, while rescEU Medical provides medical items, medicinal products and devices for measuring the radioactivity of persons and foodstuffs. Medical stockpiles have been created to respond to cross-border health emergencies, such as pandemics.

The rescEU stockpiles are shared strategic reserves funded by the EU. They may be deployed following a European Commission decision when a country’s own resources or bilateral offers under the Union Civil Protection Mechanism are insufficient to cope with the situation. The stockpiles are primarily intended for the EU Member States, but they can also be made available to ten other countries, largely the EU’s neighbours such as Ukraine, that also participate in the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, or to third countries in exceptional cases. Dispatching items from the rescEU stockpiles requires seamless cooperation between the requesting country, the sending country and the European Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC).

Finland hosts large rescEU stockpiles with a total value of EUR 305 million. The stockpile preparations and procurement are carried out by a consortium under the leadership of the Finnish Ministry of the Interior. The consortium members are the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, the National Emergency Supply Agency, and the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority. The Ministry of the Interior coordinates the projects managing the rescEU strategic reserves in Finland and is the national competent authority of the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism.

The National Emergency Supply Agency (NESA) is responsible for the procurement, storage, logistics, maintenance and recycling of the personal protective equipment, measuring equipment and support devices defined in the project throughout its duration.

Ministry of the Interior’s press release
rescEU project website