Finland is proposing a legislative change that would allow authorities to intervene in property ownership posing a threat to national security also in the autonomous Åland Islands.
Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen of the National Coalition Party said the change was necessary to strengthen security across the whole country.
“Finland must in future be able to intervene in property transactions that threaten our security also in Åland. This is about the security of the entire country,” Häkkänen said in a statement.
“Real estate can be used for hostile activities aimed at destabilising our country, and such efforts must be prevented in advance,” he added.
The proposal concerns Finland’s Act on the Expropriation of Immovable Property and Special Rights to Ensure National Security. The law allows property or related rights to be expropriated when necessary to safeguard interests including national defence, territorial integrity, border security, security of supply and critical infrastructure.
The Ministry of Defence has taken part in work to reform the legislation governing Åland’s autonomy. Together with the Government of Åland, it has drafted a provision that would extend the national security expropriation legislation to the islands.
A government proposal containing the change has been circulated for comments.
According to Häkkänen, the amendment would not affect Åland’s special autonomous status.
Finland has tightened scrutiny of strategic real estate
The proposed change comes as Finland has been strengthening its ability to respond to security risks linked to real estate.
The Ministry of Defence launched a review in late 2024 after concluding that properties and associated rights could potentially be used as tools of hybrid influence against Finland.
A working group later proposed making the system more effective by concentrating responsibility for national security-related expropriation permits at the Ministry of Defence.
The current national security expropriation act entered into force in 2020. It provides a mechanism for the state to take control of property when required by national security interests, with compensation payable to the owner.
The wider reform of Åland’s autonomy legislation is currently under preparation by the Finnish government.