Finnish PM confirms support to France in crisis management operations

Finnish Prime Minister Juha Sipila said on Monday he has confirmed to France that Finland will be involved in crisis management operations to support France's actions against terrorism.

In response to France's request of a European Union (EU) security guarantee in the wake of deadly terrorist attacks in Paris about two weeks ago, Sipila said that he has provided an initial response to France about the issue.

Sipila discussed the matter with French President Francois Hollande in an EU summit in Brussels on Sunday, according to Finnish national broadcaster Yle.

"These Finnish measures are mainly crisis management operations, and it is also what France has requested. For example, Mali is on the list (of the requests)," Sipila was quoted as saying, referring to a French request for assistance in anti-terrorist operations in Mali.

The current Finnish legislation does not allow Finland to provide military assistance to other member states of the EU. However, participation in the UN and the EU's crisis management operations are acceptable.

Finnish Minister of Defense Jussi Niinisto revealed earlier that new legislation, which allows Finland to provide military assistance to other EU member states, will be presented to the Parliament at the beginning of next year.

France has asked the EU countries for military help and other aids in its missions in the Middle East and Africa in the wake of the fatal terrorist attacks in Paris, in accordance with article 42.7 of the Lisbon Treaty, which has never been used before in the history of the EU. Endit