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International funding granted to Finnish Customs

In addition to appropriations awarded through the state budget, Customs finances its operations and procurements through different external instruments for financial support, mostly those of the European Union. Besides the EU, international funding is also granted by national and international funds, foundations, organisations and other government agencies.

European Union flag, with the text: Co-funded by the European Union

EU programming period 2021-2027

During the programming period 2021-2027, Finnish Customs endeavours to use, as far as possible, the following international sources of funding: the instrument for financial support for customs control equipment (CCEI), the Internal Security Funds of the EU (ISF and BMVI), the European Anti-fraud Office (EUAF) and Eurostat.

Customs Control Equipment Instrument, CCEI 

The aim of the instrument for financial support is to protect the financial interests of the EU and its member states, strengthen security and protect the Union from unfair and illegal trade. The instrument for financial support also serves the purpose of facilitating legitimate business activities. The specific objective is to harmonise customs control tools and methods throughout the EU. This objective materialises by purchasing, maintaining and updating relevant, reliable, state-of-the-art customs control equipment.

The project consists of 17 customs offices on the eastern border, the ports of Helsinki and Helsinki Airport. In the project, old customs control equipment is replaced with new ones, the control technology is updated and completely new control instruments are acquired. The reforms will improve Customs' ability to carry out customs controls, detect crime and ensure the security of society.

Project schedule: 1.9.2022-31.8.2025

Granted funding: 16 807 402 € (80% of the budget)

The project involves acquiring new measuring equipment for the Customs Laboratory and pre-processing equipment related to the automation of analytics. Measuring equipment can be used to analyse and identify, for example, new illegal substances, counterfeit foods and pesticides. The pre-processing equipment enables an increase in capacity and improves the analytical reliability of investigations into illegal imports. 

Project schedule: 1.9.2022–31.8.2025

Granted funding: 1 624 000 € (80% of the budget)

Internal Security Fund (ISF)

The fund contributes to strengthening the internal security of the EU by preventing cross border crimes such as cybercrimes, environmental crimes and crimes related to drugs, corruption and terrorism. The fund supports increasing the crisis resilience of the Union and preparedness for new threats, for example with regard to critical infrastructure. The crisis resilience is also strengthened by preventing phenomena that are detrimental to security, such as radicalisation. Actions for the protection of crime victims is also supported.

The quantity of IT devices and data used in criminal activity increases continuously. At the same time, the evidence obtained from such devices and data becomes increasingly significant. The development project meets the challenges in electronic investigations posed by digital development. The project enhances the activity and capacity around IT investigations conducted by Customs Investigation, especially in terms of serious and organised cross-border crime.

Project schedule: 1 January 2024 – 31 December 2025

Granted EU funding: 757 613,62 € (75% of budget)

The project will improve the operational capabilities and performance of technical surveillance of customs crime prevention in order to prevent and investigate customs offences. The project will provide Customs with technical surveillance equipment and train personnel in the deployment of the equipment.

Project schedule: 1.12.2022–30.11.2024

Granted funding: 392 595 € (75% of the budget)

The project focuses on purchases of equipment for identification of pathogens and dangerous chemicals for Customs and on the necessary protective equipment for protection against them. Customs’ personnel will be trained in the use of the purchased devices and protective equipment. Through the project the number of the CBRN protective equipment in Customs will increase and the detection equipment will improve the ability to identify CBRN situations. The first meeting of the project was held on 4 December, 2023. 

Project schedule: 1 December 2023 - 30 November 2025

Granted EU funding: 209 941 € (75% of budget)

The project will enhance Customs’ ability to prevent, detect and investigate customs offences and to bring charges against persons suspected of customs offences.  The aim of the project is to reinforce the performance of surveillance-type information acquisition carried out in the context of crime prevention.  The project focuses on purchases of tools for surveillance-type information acquisition to be used  especially in combating serious and professional cross-border crime and, on training of Finnish Customs’ personnel in the use of them.

Project schedule: 1 January 2024 – 31 December 2025

Granted EU funding: 257 626 € (75% of budget)

European Union Anti-Fraud Programme

The aim of the programme is to protect the financial interests of the EU by supporting the fight against smuggling of highly taxable products. Highly taxable products include, for example, cigarettes. The programme also seeks to prevent and combat fraud, corruption and other illegal activities. The programme provides support for irregularity reporting, means for exchange of information and operational activities of Finnish Customs.

The project will strengthen the technical investigation capabilities of Customs. Investigation capabilities are improved by automating and developing processes that enable e.g. a more effective exchange of information between different interest groups.

Project schedule: 1.7.2022–30.6.2025

Granted funding: 432 845 € (80% of the budget)

The project promotes Customs' technical investigation capabilities, e.g. for analysing data masses.

Project schedule: 1.3.2023–28.2.2025

Granted funding: 302 906 € (80% of the budget)

Eurostat

As a service of the European Commission, Eurostat finances measures linked to the compilation of EU statistics by Member States. Customs Statistics receives funding for development projects concerning statistics on the foreign trade of goods.

EU programming period 2014-2020

The main international sources of funding for Finnish Customs are the Hercule III programme of the European Anti-fraud Office (OLAF), the Internal Security Funds of the EU (ISF-Police and ISF-Borders aid instruments), the ENI-CBC programmes (European Neighbourhood Instrument-Cross Border Cooperation) and Eurostat.

Hercule III programme of the European Anti-fraud Office (OLAF)

The aim of the programme was to limit the opportunities for fraud and irregularities in the EU territory. Funding under the programme focused on actions pertaining to analysis, storage and destruction of seized substances, vehicle recognition systems and control and detection equipment.

Project schedule: 1.4.2016 - 31.12.2017

Granted funding: 1 618 800 € (80% of the budget)

The instrument for financial support for police cooperation, preventing and combating crime, and crisis management (ISF-Police)

The instrument provided support for police cooperation and efforts to prevent and fight crime. The funding was concentrated on the fight against organised cross-border crime, terrorism, corruption, human trafficking and cybercrime. The support helped to improve the exchange of information and the access to information, and to promote protection of people and critical infrastructure.

Logo with the EU flag. Text next to the logo: Internal security fund Police Supported by the European Union

Project schedule: 1.2.2016 - 31.3.2017

Granted funding: 600 000 € (75% of the budget)

Project schedule: 1.7.2016–31.12.2017

Granted funding: 146 250 € (75% of the budget)

Project schedule: 1.8.2016 - 31.12.2017

Granted funding: 146 250 € (75% of the budget)

Project schedule: 5.2.2018 - 31.12.2018

Granted funding: 230 846 € (75% of the budget)

Project schedule: 1.9.2020 - 30.6.2021

Granted funding: 122 111 € (75% of the budget)

Instrument for financial support for external borders and visa (ISF-Borders)

The aim of the instrument was to preserve the operational capacity of the border control authorities and to promote legal entry and prevent illegal entry. Actions funded under the instrument served to develop border control and contributed to the development of a European common integrated border management system in order to ensure a uniform and high-quality external border control and to facilitate legitimate travel across borders.

Logo with the EU flag. Text next to the logo: Internal security fund - borders and visa Supported by the European Union

Project schedule: 1.3.2016 - 31.5.2017

Granted funding: 75 000 € (75% of the budget)

Project schedule: 1.9.2018 - 31.3.2019

Granted funding: 75 000 € (75% of the budget)

Project schedule: 4.2.2021 - 31.10.2022

Granted funding: 125 468 € (66% of the budget)

EU Cross Border Cooperation programmes (European Neighbourhood Instrument – Cross Border Co-operation, ENI-CBC)

In the period from 2014 to 2020, three EU Cross Border Cooperation programmes (ENI-CBC) were carried out on the Finland-Russia border: Kolarctic, Karelia and South-East Finland-Russia. The joint priorities of all the programmes were business development, environmental protection, border management and border security. 

Cross-border cooperation aimed to support social and economic development along EU’s external borders, to provide a response to joint challenges in such areas as the environment, health and crime and to facilitate the movement of people, goods and capital.

European Union flag, with the text: Co-funded by the European Union

Kotka-Hamina harbour 1.6.2019 - 31.8.2022, granted funding 146 800 € (80% of the budget)

Vaalimaa 1.5.2019 - 30.6.2023, granted funding 2 618 065 € (80% of the budget)

Vainikkala 1.3.2019 - 30.6.2023, granted funding 580 645 € (80% of the budget)

Imatra 1.3.2019 - 30.6.2023,, granted funding 2 076 774 € (80% of the budget)

Parikkala 1.5.2019 - 30.6.2023,, granted funding 116 129 € (80% of the budget)

Vartius 1.1.2019 - 30.6.2023,, granted funding 346 210 € (90% of the budget)

Raja-Jooseppi 1.3.2019 - 30.6.2023,, granted funding 428 226 € (90% of the budget)

Eurostat

Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the EU, financed measures linked to the compilation of statistics by Member States.

Project schedule: 11.1.2016 - 31.12.2016

Granted funding: 21 146 € (100% of the budget)

Project schedule: 9.1.2017 - 31.12.2017

Granted funding: 70 411 € (100% of the budget)

Project schedule: 26.11.2018 - 21.11.2019

Granted funding: 106 722 € (70% of the budget)

Project schedule: 2.12.2019 - 2.1.2021

Granted funding: 250 717 € (90% of the budget)

SRSP (Structural Reform Support Programme)

 

Project schedule: 1.6.2020 - 31.5.2021

Granted funding: 250 000 € (100% of the budget)