Published
Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde took part in the North Atlantic Council meeting on 5 July 2022 at NATO headquarters in Brussels, where all NATO members signed the Accession Protocols for Sweden and Finland. This enables all the NATO members to proceed with the accession process and ratify the protocols in the next step towards Swedish and Finnish membership. Following ratification by the NATO members, Sweden’s accession will be referred to the Riksdag for approval. Sweden and Finland have Invitee status until the accession protocols have been ratified.
“Today’s meeting marks an important step towards full NATO membership. Now that the accession protocols have been signed, and during the accession process, we will be integrated into the work within NATO’s structures . A great deal remains to be done before we become full members, but today’s step is very positive for the security of Sweden and the Swedish people,” said Ms Linde after the meeting.
Ms Linde led the Swedish delegation in the accession discussions at NATO headquarters yesterday ahead of today’s signing. Finland’s accession discussions were also held yesterday.
Source – Swedish Government