Albania approves NATO accession protocols for Sweden, Finland

By Talha Ozturk

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) - Albania’s parliament on Thursday ratified the accession protocols for Sweden and Finland to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Both bills ratifying the protocols received the consent of 114 deputies in the 140-seat parliament.

None of the deputies present voted against or abstained.

Albania’s Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Olta Xhacka, in her speech at the session said her country has supported Sweden and Finland's NATO membership processes from the very beginning.

"We strongly believe in NATO's open-door policy, and this policy makes the alliance stronger and collective security more assured. This perspective should be presented to Kosovo as well,'' said Xhacka.

The bills also need to be approved by President Ilir Meta.

Sweden and Finland were invited to join NATO after Türkiye lifted its veto on their membership.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President Sauli Niinistö of Finland and Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson of Sweden agreed last month at a NATO summit in Madrid on a trilateral memorandum to address Türkiye’s legitimate security concerns, paving the way for the two Nordic countries’ NATO membership.

The membership applications of both countries must be voted on in the parliaments of all NATO member states.