ForTheDoers Blog
From Vulnerability to Resilience: What Europe Can Learn from the Nordics — and What Comes Next
Nebahat Albayrak
25 February 2026
All our hopes are set on a lasting agreement that ends the suffering in Ukraine. Yet even such a breakthrough would not end the challenges confronting Europe. Our energy systems are increasingly under attack. We must prepare for continued hybrid efforts to undermine our societies through cyber‑attacks, sabotage, aerial threats, and emerging technologies targeting civilian infrastructure. With so much at stake, we cannot afford to waste the lessons learned from the war in Ukraine — lessons paid at a high human cost. Public and private actors now share a historic opportunity, even a societal duty, to strengthen Europe’s preparedness and strategic resilience.
Energy lies at the centre of this effort. The urgent need to secure energy sovereignty while accelerating decarbonisation through electrification is testing Europe’s ability to safeguard its future. As we move away from Russian energy, the decisions we make today will shape Europe’s resilience and prosperity for decades. Quite simply: energy security is national security.
Europe is moving in the right direction, but change is slowed by complexity and political fragmentation. This is not new. Still, I remain optimistic. European progress has rarely come from perfect unanimity; it has come from determined, like‑minded countries taking pragmatic action. This is where the Nordics play a crucial role.
Why the Nordics Matter
The Nordic countries offer a cohesive model for long‑term energy security and economic strength. Their approach is grounded in trust and strong public–private cooperation. Finland’s concept of total defence — in which government, industry, and citizens plan and train together — stands as a prime example. This mindset strengthens already robust energy systems supported by low‑carbon power, political stability, and deep cross‑border collaboration.
The region’s balanced energy mix reinforces this foundation:
- reliable nuclear power,
- flexible hydropower, and
- rapidly expanding wind and solar.
Combined with a skilled workforce, resilient grid infrastructure, and abundant land and water resources, the Nordics provide one of Europe’s strongest platforms for secure supply and continued clean‑energy growth.
A Shared Responsibility for Resilience
Resilience requires collective responsibility. At Fortum, we have long recognised the critical role private companies must play. Resilience is embedded into our daily operations. Safety and continuity are central to this work, and our business continuity plans are rigorously stress‑tested. A key component is intelligence sharing and conducting joint training with public authorities, military partners — including NATO — and other Nordic countries.
The Nordics can indeed provide a blueprint for Europe, but the specific lessons from Ukraine offer even more urgency. How does a power system remain resilient under daily attacks? Working with Rasmussen Global, we have gathered substantial insights for both energy companies and public authorities. These insights were recently reinforced in the Eurelectric study launched at the Munich Security Conference, which expands our understanding of risks and opportunities also through interviews with European power companies.
Towards Strategic Unity in Europe
To realise the full Nordic potential, we need strategic unity. Electricity flows freely across borders, yet planning and investment decisions remain mostly national. To strengthen Europe’s long‑term energy mix, we must plan together and create incentives for major investments — in both energy consumption and energy production.
We must also stand together in the face of ongoing hybrid disruptions. Authorities and private companies alike must be ready to support one another. By deepening collaboration across the Nordics and applying the recommendations and learnings from recent studies, we can enhance our region’s resilience. By sharing these insights with Europe, we can drive alignment, accelerate action, and shorten the time to impact.
The Choices We Make Now Will Shape the Future
Future shocks are inevitable, but Europe’s long‑term strength is not predetermined. The collective decisions we make today will define whether Europe remains safe, strong, and vibrant. With so much hard‑won knowledge at hand, we cannot allow these learnings to go to waste.
