Finland's government is planning to make a significant change to the Conscription Act to bolster security on the nation's eastern border with Russia, the Ministry of Defence has announced in a press release.
The legislative reform would see reservists drafted in to help the Finnish Border Guard in exceptional circumstances, the ministry outlined.
This could include, for example, a sudden influx of undocumented migrants arriving at Finnish border checkpoints from the Russian side.
The ministry emphasised that the proposed law reform would only apply to reservists who had completed their military service under the Border Guard and who have been trained for the necessary duties.
Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen (NCP) told Yle that the law change was drafted following a request from the Finnish Border Guard.
"In all circumstances, for example when the instrumentalised flow of migrants is used to destabilise Finland, we want to ensure that Finland has enough people to monitor and manage the border, no matter how serious the situation," Häkkänen said.
He added that the new law will only apply to about one percent of Finland's 900,000-strong reserve force.
The Finnish Border Guard currently has about 2,500 personnel, while a further 7,500 people work on border security issues in different departments and organisations.
Reservists called in to assist the Border Guard could undertake duties including border surveillance, patrols, traffic control and logistical tasks.
The defence ministry's statement also noted that the Border Guard's regular personnel would lead and supervise the reservists in all situations.
Reservists could be called up at short notice
Under the current law, orders to participate in a refresher training exercise are sent to conscripts at least three months in advance.
However, the law change would waive this requirement in the event that Finland's border security is at stake, and reservists could be called up within 30 days.
Häkkänen said this stipulation would make it possible to call the reservists up at short notice and as a matter of urgency — but ultimately the Finnish President would decide on this matter.
"Of course, there is some lead time, but if unexpected situations arise quickly where the number of arrivals at the border increases, the law would allow this to happen more quickly than usual," the minister explained.
The changes to Finland's Conscription Act are a joint legislative project between the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of the Interior.
The government will send the draft bill for a short consultation round on Wednesday and hopes to bring the law into effect as soon as possible.
"The aim is to bring this quickly to Parliament and get it into force immediately, so that the powers can be put in place immediately," Häkkänen said.
The situation on Finland's eastern border with Russia has been stable so far this year.
