TIRANA, July 7, 2022 – Albania’s parliament unanimously approved on Thursday the NATO Accession Protocols of Finland and Sweden, becoming one of the first alliance members to do so.
As a NATO member Albania must approve the membership of the two Nordic countries into the alliance for it to take effect. The parliament’s vote effectively means that Albania already sees Finland and Sweden as NATO members.
Both government and opposition forces in Albania strongly support efforts to strengthen the alliance after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. All 114 MPs present in the session voted in favor of the decision.
Swedish Ambassador Elsa Hastad was present in the viewing gallery of the parliament and thanked MPs for the decision.
“Thank you Albania for being one of the first to ratify NATO protocol unanimously in your parliament,” she wrote on Twitter.
Socialist MP Pandeli Majko said in parliament that the approval was “a genuine act of solidarity,” adding whatever affects the two newest NATO members’ sovereignty, now also affects Albania.
“The Russian Federation is destroying international law. This collective moment of staying together makes us even stronger,” said Majko, a former Albanian prime minister. “With this statement today, despite all the political polarization [in Albania], the joint decision is a meaningful and important gesture that reaffirms the position of Albanian politics as a member of NATO. This is one of the most important acts that this parliament has passed.”
Historically militarily neutral, the two Nordic states, which are also EU members, have sought to quickly become NATO members following Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.
Finland and Sweden completed accession talks at NATO Headquarters in Brussels on Monday, with both countries formally confirming their willingness and ability to meet the political, legal and military obligations and commitments of NATO membership.
The Accession Protocols, which the two countries signed on Tuesday, have now been sent to all NATO countries for ratification, according to each country’s national procedure. In Albania, that power rests with the parliament.
