Lawmakers in the Nordic country of Finland approved the necessary legislation on March 1, for NATO membership and affirmed their approval of Finland’s historic bid to join the alliance.
The final national hurdle for Finland’s accession to the 30-member Western alliance was cleared when the measure allowing for its accession was approved by the 200-seat Eduskunta legislature with a vote of 184-7. President Sauli Niinisto is required to sign the legislative decisions into law.
The vote was initiated before Finland’s general election on April 2 despite the fact that two NATO members, Turkey and Hungary, have not yet ratified Finland and neighboring Sweden’s membership applications.
Admittance to NATO requires approval from all current members. Turkey is the main opponent of Finland and Sweden’s membership applications because Ankara wants more action, particularly from Sweden, against groups that it considers terrorist.
Ankara has agreed to meet with representatives from Finland and Sweden in Brussels later this month to discuss the latter two countries’ membership applications and resolve any outstanding issues or obstacles.
On the other hand, the Hungarian parliament was going to start talking about the Nordic countries’ plans to join NATO. Ratification was expected by the end of the month.
