The Senate with a right-wing majority gave Thursday, July 21 the first green light from the French Parliament, before the National Assembly, to a bill of ratification to allow the accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO.
The two Nordic countries have confirmed that they have renounced their neutrality and decided to join NATO because of the deterioration of the security situation in Europe caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“A historic development”
For the ratification by France to be effective, the text must still be approved by the deputies who will examine it on August 2.
The senators voted for it very largely by 323 votes against 17. Only the majority communist CRCE group voted against, castigating “
an expeditious procedure
”.
According to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna, the accessions of Sweden and Finland “
constitute a historic development for these two countries
”.
They "
respond to a need for increased security
" of these two countries, but "
will also constitute a gain (...) for the collective security of the European area
", she assured.
Read alsoThe accession of Finland and Sweden, a strategic transformation for NATO
The signing of the accession protocols by the ambassadors of the thirty member countries opened the ratification process on July 5 at the headquarters of the Atlantic Alliance in Brussels.
This signature grants guest country status to Sweden and Finland.
But they will not benefit from the protection of Article 5 of the NATO Charter in the event of an attack, as long as the 30 member states have not ratified their membership.
Thursday, eighteen countries had already ratified it, including Germany and Poland, said Catherine Colonna.
Mixed reactions for the opposition
For the LR chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Christian Cambon, the accession of Sweden and Finland is “
proof of the seriousness of Russian aggression against Ukraine
”.
She "
is a major symbol of our eyes finally open
", added the leader of the Independents Claude Malhuret.
Christian Cambon nevertheless considered that "
the blackmail exercised by Turkey
" should be "
a point of vigilance
".
The communist Pierre Laurent denounced a "
memorandum of shame
" signed between Turkey and the two Nordic countries.
"
The facts are there: we are trading the Turkish green light for the extradition of Kurdish democrats to deliver them to Erdogan who, after a travesty of justice, will leave them to rot in a Turkish prison
", he declared.
Read alsoThe door to NATO opens for Finland and Sweden
"
European defense does not exist
", for his part regretted the socialist Jean-Marc Todeschini, according to whom "
we cannot hide the fact that this application (for membership) highlights a real weakness of the European Union
”.
"
Yes to the accession of Sweden and Finland, but yes also that Europe retains its power, its strength and is not only behind the others
", had previously affirmed Roger Karoutchi (LR).
