FINLAND'S RELATIONS WITH NATO

Finland is not a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, but Finland continues to advance its cooperation with NATO by actively participating in NATO's Partnership for Peace programme and EU-NATO cooperation.

Finland is developing its cooperative relations with NATO both through the multilateral Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) and the bilaterally implemented Partnership for Peace programme. Finland will endeavour to ensure that the development of the Partnership for Peace activities takes into account Finland's viewpoint and need for cooperation.

Through its NATO cooperation, Finland will also seek more extensive transatlantic collaboration on security policy. Finland considers NATO to be an organization of key importance for military transatlantic security policy and security cooperation. In Finland's view, the development and functioning of EU-NATO cooperation is essential.

Within the framework of its partnership relations, Finland aims to encourage regular political dialogue with NATO on security policy issues important to Finland. Finland will also improve its readiness to participate in NATO-led crisis management operations also in the future. To this end, cooperation to develop military interoperability, force planning and the necessary capabilities will be sought, and Finland will participate more extensively in training exercises. Dispatching Finnish civilian or military personnel to NATO headquarters and commands to positions considered of key importance to Finland, and for training, are essential areas for further cooperation.

Cooperation in the civil emergency planning sector as well as other collaboration to protect societies in crisis situations and to combat terrorism are areas where, in Finland's view, cooperation will be developed further. At the same time, Finland is contributing to the support given to the transition countries participating in the Partnership for Peace programme.

Finland is continuously monitoring the changes occurring in NATO, the development of its capability and the organization's international significance. Applying for membership of the alliance will remain a possibility in Finland's security and defence policy also in the future.