The EU High Representative, as well as several ministers, gave their support, on Tuesday 17 May, to Finland and Sweden’s application for EU membership.
On Tuesday, the Swedish government officially signed its application for NATO membership. On the same day, the Finnish Parliament voted by 188 votes to 8 (with 3 abstentions) in favour of applying for membership.
“Finland and Sweden can count on the full support of the EU”, said the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, at the end of the Council of European Defence Ministers, adding that this will strengthen cooperation and security in Europe. “Let’s hope they join NATO soon. NATO and the EU will be two sets of Member States with more intersections”, he added. In his view, this will be an important geopolitical change.
For the German Minister, Christine Lambrecht, “two strong partners will enrich NATO”. “This is good for Finland and Sweden, but it is also good for the Alliance”, she added.
“If Finland and Sweden, two European democratic countries, join NATO, it will consolidate and strengthen it”, said the Luxembourg Minister, François Bausch. He went further, saying that “in the times we live in, it is more comfortable to live under the umbrella of alliances like NATO. It would be a good idea if all EU Member States also joined the Alliance”.
Asked about the possible blocking by Turkey, Mr Bausch called on Turkey to be reasonable. According to him, the internal political situation in the country, with elections next year, could play a role in Ankara’s decision. “No one will understand if we refuse Sweden and Finland. In terms of the values they stand for, they belong to NATO”, he added.
Several countries also pledged to support Helsinki and Stockholm in case of Russian threats during the transition period. “If necessary, we will be able to help”, said the Dutch minister, Kajsa Ollongren. The day before, in a press release, the French Presidency of the EU Council warned that “any state that seeks to test European solidarity, through a threat or aggression against their sovereignty by any means, must have the certainty that France will stand by Finland and Sweden”, reaffirming France’s commitment under Article 42.7 of the EU Treaty on the mutual defence clause. “France stands ready to strengthen defence and security cooperation with these two partners through high-level strategic consultations and enhanced military interaction”, it added.
Mr Borrell recalled that if one country triggered this article, the others were obliged to come to its aid. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)