EUROGENDFOR welcomes Lieutenant Colonel Topi Räsänen as the first-ever Finnish Border Guard Liaison Officer at the Permanent Headquarters.
Vicenza, Italy, 1 June 2026 The European Gendarmerie Force (EUROGENDFOR) marked a significant milestone with the arrival of Lieutenant Colonel Topi Räsänen at its Permanent Headquarters in Vicenza, Italy.
He becomes the first officer from the Finnish Border Guard ever to serve as a Liaison Officer within the EUROGENDFOR structure.
Following a rigorous evaluation process that assessed the Finnish Border Guard’s capabilities, legal framework, and alignment with EUROGENDFOR’s standards, Finland was unanimously approved as a Partner Member during the high-level CIMIN meeting held in Cascais, Portugal, in December 2025.
This accession represented a natural progression of Finland’s long-standing commitment to European security and border management. The Finnish Border Guard, renowned across Europe for its professional excellence and operational expertise, particularly in border surveillance and crisis management and brings a unique and valuable dimension to EUROGENDFOR’s multinational team.
Liaison Officer at the PHQ
As Liaison Officer at the PHQ, Lieutenant Colonel Räsänen will act as the primary link between the Finnish Border Guard and EUROGENDFOR, facilitating coordination, information sharing, and operational cooperation between both organisations.
His arrival strengthens the multinational character of EUROGENDFOR and reinforces the organisation’s capacity to respond rapidly and effectively to complex security challenges across Europe and beyond. 
