Latest developments
The Committee on Foreign Affairs in the Finnish Parliament gave a statement on the TPNW in June 2018. According to the Committee, the TPNW 'supports and complements' the NPT and CTBT. The TPNW 'could lead to changed expectations, priorities and views also in states outside of the treaty.' The Committee argued that Finland should 'continue to analyse the contents of the treaty and compare it to other central initiatives in the area.' The Committee did not offer a recommendation with respect to adherence or not, but concluded that Finland should cooperate with Sweden and monitor the Swedish stance on the TPNW. In a speech on August 25, 2020 Finland's Prime Minister Sanna Marin stated: 'We participate in the dialogue concerning the Treaty to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons. Finland is committed to nuclear disarmament and promotes it through the Non-proliferation Treaty.' Three of the five political parties in Finland's coalition government have indicated their support for the TPNW: the Finnish Social Democratic Party, the Green League and the Left Alliance. The former Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomija has called on the government to join the TPNW. Since 1987 Finland has had national legislation in place (in its Nuclear Energy Act) which forbids the importation, manufacturing, possession and detonation of nuclear explosive devices in Finland. See: bit.ly/2mkxaz9, bit.ly/2DwLdur, bit.ly/3meEw16, bit.ly/3i3oZiB.
Recommendations
- Finland should urgently sign and ratify the TPNW, and encourage other states to adhere to the Treaty.
