Protecting classified information with the Netherlands
The approval and entry into force of the agreement with the Kingdom of the Netherlands on the exchange and mutual protection of classified information
Finland and the Netherlands will agree on common rules to protect classified information exchanged between the two countries. The arrangement will enable the secure transfer of sensitive information between authorities and companies.
- Status
- Passed
- Submitted
- 5 Oct 2023
- Latest event
- 1 Dec 2023
- Votes
- 0
- Speeches
- 4
- Confirmed
- 21 Dec 2023
- Statute
- 1184/2023
- Source
- eduskunta.fi ↗
What is proposed
A bilateral agreement will be brought into force to align the security classifications of Finland and the Netherlands and agree on procedures for handling, transferring, storing and protecting classified material.
What it means
The change will enable Finnish companies to participate in classified projects and public procurements organised in the Netherlands, particularly in the defence, cyber security and technology sectors. In these projects, companies and their employees will be required to obtain official security clearances and comply with agreed information security requirements.
How Parliament voted
The bill passed without a vote – no MP proposed rejecting or amending it in plenary.
Debate in the chamber
What was argued and where each group stood, followed by MPs' speeches verbatim from the parliamentary record. Speeches are shown in their original language.
4 speeches · 3 speakers · 1 debate
Key points of the debate
The debate on the agreement between Finland and the Netherlands on the protection of classified information was entirely unanimous. The agreement was considered to strengthen information security between the countries and improve opportunities for Finnish companies to participate in international projects. All MPs who spoke supported bringing the proposal into force.
- National Coalition PartyIn favour
The National Coalition Party considered the agreement important for promoting trust between the countries, information security and the international competitiveness of Finnish companies. The agreement enables joint projects requiring classified information, for example in the defence and technology sectors.
”Sopimuksen tavoitteena on varmistua siitä, että Suomen Alankomaihin luovuttamaa ja Alankomaiden Suomeen luovuttamaa turvallisuusluokiteltua tietoa suojataan ja käsitellään asianmukaisesti.”
— Elina Valtonen - Social DemocratsIn favour
The Social Democrats supported the prompt approval of the proposal so that the confidential exchange of information between partner countries and companies can be safeguarded. The group also hoped that alongside bilateral agreements, an EU-level or broader international convention would be developed in the future.
”Senkin takia on tärkeätä, että mahdollisimman nopeasti Suomessa saatamme tämän nyt voimaan.”
— Joona Räsänen
This digest was generated by AI from 4 speeches 13 Sep 2026. Group positions are read from the speeches, not from votes; quotations were checked verbatim against the record.
Keskustelu päättyi. Asia lähetettiin hallintovaliokuntaan.
Stages of consideration
The bill's path from the preliminary debate to the decision, as recorded by Parliament.
- 5 Oct 2023Eduskuntakäsittelyn vireilletulo · Ulkoministeriö
- 19 Oct 2023Lähetekeskustelu · Täysistunto
- 17 Nov 2023Valiokunnan mietintö tai lausunto · hallintovaliokunta
- 22 Nov 2023Ensimmäinen käsittely · Täysistunto
- 28 Nov 2023Ainoa käsittely · Täysistunto
- 30 Nov 2023Eduskunnan vastaus ja kirjelmä
Decisions by law proposal2
- 1Laki turvallisuusluokitellun tiedon vaihtamisesta ja vastavuoroisesta suojaamisesta Alankomaiden kanssa tehdystä sopimuksestaHyväksytty · 1184/2023 · 21 Dec 2023
- Sopimus turvallisuusluokitellun tiedon vaihtamisesta ja vastavuoroisesta suojaamisesta Suomen tasavallan ja Alankomaiden kuningaskunnan välilläHyväksytty · 44/2024
Proposed law text
The law proposals in the bill as the Government presented them. The final act may differ after committee consideration.
The law text is shown in Finnish or Swedish from Parliament's official documents; it is not translated into English.
Laki turvallisuusluokitellun tiedon vaihtamisesta ja vastavuoroisesta suojaamisesta Alankomaiden kanssa tehdystä sopimuksesta
Eduskunnan päätöksen mukaisesti säädetään:
1 §
Turvallisuusluokitellun tiedon vaihtamisesta ja vastavuoroisesta suojaamisesta Suomen tasavallan ja Alankomaiden kuningaskunnan välillä Haagissa 22 päivänä helmikuuta 2022 tehdyn sopimuksen lainsäädännön alaan kuuluvat määräykset ovat lakina voimassa sellaisina kuin Suomi on niihin sitoutunut.
2 §
Sopimuksen muiden kuin lainsäädännön alaan kuuluvien määräysten voimaansaattamisesta säädetään valtioneuvoston asetuksella.
3 §
Tämän lain voimaantulosta säädetään valtioneuvoston asetuksella.
Main content of the bill (official)
The summary and title were produced with AI on 13 Sep 2026. They are not official documents – check the details in the original bill. The title and summaries are machine translations of the Finnish AI summaries. Speeches and quotations are always shown in their original language.