Talking Europe interviews Tytti Tuppurainen, Finland's minister for European affairs, following the Hungarian parliament's ratification of Helsinki's application to join NATO. Finland and Sweden both applied nearly a year ago, in what was seen as a huge shift in European security. But obstacles have slowed down the two countries' progress on that path towards the Atlantic Alliance. Tuppurainen also touches on her country's energy transition and the main issues in the upcoming parliamentary election in Finland on April 2.
Asked how much of a setback it is for Finland to have Sweden left out of NATO for now, Tuppurainen responds: "It was our priority to enter NATO together. We started this process hand in hand and Sweden is our closest partner. It would have benefited NATO the most to have us both entering simultaneously. But here we are, in a different situation. This was not our choice. And we have to be humble, as applicant states. But since it looks like Finland is going to be in NATO before Sweden, then of course Finland will try to help Sweden to also join as soon as possible."
