Finland promotes the development of defence cooperation within the EU so that the Union and its Member States can be better prepared to meet the security requirements of the future and to improve their crisis resilience. The Union has a role in defending the citizens of its Member States and its territory. It carries out this role by supporting the Member States’ defence development and by complying with the founding Treaties. Maintaining and developing capabilities demands a sufficient technological and industrial base as well as arrangements for security of supply. The European military security of supply arrangements will be deepened with the aim of facilitating rapid and efficient defence materiel delivery procedures among the Member States in all circumstances. Finland’s interests must be taken into account in the development of the European Defence Market. Hybrid influencing has increased the need to act by taking into account both internal and external security requirements. The means of hybrid influencing between states have increased and in the early phase they are difficult to recognise. Sufficient capabilities are needed for correctly-timed recognition of hybrid influencing as well as guaranteeing the state’s decision-making and the protection of territorial sovereignty. EU’s solidarity clause (Article 222, TEU) and the mutual assistance clause (Article 42.7, TEU) strengthen the Union as a security community and increase solidarity among the Member States. Implementing the solidarity clause at the EU level improves the coherent employment of all of the Union’s instruments in trying to respond quickly to a Member State’s need for help, be the event a terrorist attack or a natural or man-made disaster. If requested, in such circumstances the other Member States shall give it aid and assistance by all the means in their power, military resources included. Finland believes that the mutual assistance clause holds strong security policy significance, both in principle as well as in practice. The clause calls for the Member States to be prepared to provide concrete assistance to each other, and it supports their action in preventing threats. The mutual assistance clause is equally binding on all Member States. Finland will establish the required preparedness for implementing the obligations of both clauses, and for providing and receiving international assistance. The European Union must continue to further develop its common preparedness and arrangements for closer defence cooperation. The foundation for this includes the arrangements created for the implementation of the Common Security and Defence Policy as well as the capacity of the Union to comprehensively combine different policy sectors and instruments. 20