The continuing consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine ripple through national capitals. Finland and Sweden are separately weighing bids to join the Atlantic alliance. After arriving in Luxembourg for a Foreign Affairs Council, Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto outlined two parallel discussions about pursuing NATO membership, framing the issue as a top security priority for both Nordic neighbours. The Finnish government, led by Prime Minister Sanna Marin, presented a security proposal and plans for parliamentary debate as the week begins. Haavisto told reporters that the government would reach a conclusion with the president based on the discussions, while a firm deadline for submitting a request was not announced.
The aggression against Ukraine has sharpened regional concerns for Finland, which shares a 1,300-kilometer border with Russia. Sweden shares the same objective, and both capitals have signaled that debates will proceed independently, even as cooperation intensifies. Finnish officials emphasized that coordination will occur, but final decisions will rest with each country’s institutions and voters.
Sources close to the two governments told a prominent British outlet that both nations could be ready to join NATO before the summer, increasing the alliance’s membership to 32. At present, Finland and Sweden are not NATO members, though both still maintain a strong, constructive relationship with the alliance. They routinely participate in NATO meetings, exercises, and operations, underscoring a steady alignment with alliance standards.
With summer approaching, many expect a NATO leaders’ summit in Madrid to serve as a pivotal venue to formalize membership for Finland and Sweden, depending on the pace of national decisions. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has indicated that accession could proceed rapidly if both countries demonstrate sustained compliance with alliance criteria.
Accession of Moldova and Georgia to the EU
Meanwhile, the European Commission presented its accession study for Moldova and Georgia on a recent Monday. These two states followed Ukraine in signaling a desire to join the European Union after Russia’s invasion. The first steps involve evaluating how far each country is from meeting bloc requirements and what reforms are needed to advance the process. The assessment focuses on the candidate nations’ readiness and alignment with EU norms, institutions, and cohesion of legal and political frameworks.
Officials explained that the document at the center of the Commission’s review outlines the conditions and the level of preparedness for each country to enter the bloc. The event took place in Luxembourg, where Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi attended the Foreign Affairs Council with the foreign ministers of Moldova and Georgia. In remarks to Georgian minister Ilia Darchiashvili, Varhelyi described the study as the initial step toward Europe and stressed the Commission’s readiness to move quickly once the survey is completed for the next stage. Similar comments followed for Moldova’s foreign affairs chief Nicu Popescu, with Varhelyi reiterating that a faster survey response accelerates the issuance of the Community Manager’s opinion.
Brussels signaled a commitment to expedited processes for both countries, signaling support amid regional tensions. Ursula von der Leyen, head of the European Commission, stated that once Kyiv completes its survey, the Commission anticipates delivering its opinion within weeks. European officials acknowledge that Ukraine’s path remains distinct due to its current conditions, but the bloc intends to proceed with Ukraine’s evaluation as soon as Kyiv submits its form.
After the technical opinion from Brussels is available, the matter would return to the Twenty-Seven for a leaders’ decision on the next steps at the upcoming summit. Although the June leaders’ meeting has not been assigned a fixed deadline, there is a clear sense that momentum could permit timely progress if all parties continue to engage at a steady pace.