Maritime security and CISE information exchange
Finland has taken a leading role in implementing the European Commission’s cable communication in the Baltic Sea region. In cooperation with other EU Member States and NATO, Finland intends to launch a network of maritime security operation centres (SOCs) designed to identify and combat incidents targeting critical maritime infrastructure. In February 2025, the European Commission introduced an action plan to improve the security of subsea cables, aiming to protect critical infrastructure.
The Finnish Border Guard will lead the MARSEC EU 26 joint exercise for law enforcement authorities, coast guards and navies in the EU. The exercise develops international information exchange and regionally coordinated responses to maritime threats. Common Information Sharing Environment (CISE) information exchange will be tested during the exercise.
The Finnish Border Guard and the Swedish Coast Guard to begin exchanging classified information
The joint development of CISE information exchange with the Swedish Coast Guard has begun. The goal is to start exchanging classified information between Finland and Sweden in 2027, utilising the CISE Classified Network information sharing environment. The Finnish Border Guard is also currently engaged in discussions on CISE information exchange with other Baltic Sea countries.
The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) will provide information to the Finnish Border Guard through the CISE information exchange environment. The Finnish Border Guard has specified its requirements to EMSA regarding reports that support its operations.
Use cases and operational models have been mapped
The information to be exchanged within the CISE environment was mapped by defining use cases. The Finnish Border Guard is able to negotiate with EU Member States and agencies on which classified information it wants to share and receive. A large number of Finnish Border Guard experts participated in defining the use cases and operational models. The mapping process also identified the information systems from which the data originates. In addition to Finnish Border Guard data, the overall framework includes data from other Finnish authorities. Negotiations on sharing data from other Finnish authorities via CISE have also begun.
Technical design and implementation of CISE underway
The technical design and implementation phase, as well as the data protection impact assessment, are currently in process. The technical implementation of the information exchange environment is closely linked to other IT projects of the Finnish Border Guard.
A test node is currently being set up with the support of EMSA. The goal is to have the test node, initial test use cases and test data transfers operational by the end of June 2026. The forthcoming CISE Classified Network environment is intended to enable the exchange of classified information between EU Member States, and it will be deployed once EMSA has established the necessary capabilities.
Benefits of CISE information exchange
- CISE enables the exchange of classified information (EU restricted). Information received from partners complements the national maritime situational awareness and enables the compilation of better analyses.
- Each actor can use their own information systems and software, into which data received from partners is delivered via CISE.
- CISE information exchange promotes cooperation between law enforcement authorities and military actors among regional authorities and organisations responsible for maritime safety and coast guard operations in the EU, as well as between EU agencies.
- CISE-chat feature enables fast, focused and secure information exchange and file sharing.
External funding supporting the development of Finland’s international maritime situational awareness
With the European Union participating in the funding, the Development of the International Maritime Situational Picture 2 project is receiving funding from the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF). With the EMFAF funding, the safety of the seas, inter alia, will be improved by supporting initiatives that increase the maritime area monitoring and ensure sustainable use of these areas. With the €1.4 million in EMFAF funding allocated to the Finnish Border Guard, the CISE information exchange environment is being designed and built to enable the sharing and receiving of maritime security-related information between EU Member States.
