Finland Criticized for Slow Pace in Joining Ukraine War Crimes Court

As a nation that has long understood the threat posed by Russian aggression, it is deeply disappointing to see Finland lagging behind in the crucial effort to establish a court for war crimes. While other European nations, including our Nordic neighbors and the Baltic states, have moved swiftly to be among the 19 founding members of this vital institution, Finland's government appears content to wait.

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Finland should have been involved in establishing the court for aggression, and now when it is being implemented, Finland is missing from the list of countries, and the government does not intend to act for another half a year.

Our delegation at the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly in Strasbourg, led by MP Miapetra Kumpula-Natri, felt a sense of shame when Finland's name was absent from the initial list of signatories. This is not the leadership Finland should be demonstrating. We have historically been at the forefront of advocating for international justice and holding aggressors accountable. To be hesitant now, citing the need for a budget estimate that will not be available until autumn 2026, is simply unacceptable.

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To bring the approval of the EPA to parliament, a comprehensive budget estimate for the court's costs is still needed from the Council of Europe.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen states that Finland supports the court and was part of the core group preparing it. However, the practical steps reveal a concerning lack of urgency. The requirement for parliamentary approval due to long-term financial implications is understood, but the delay in even obtaining a budget estimate from the Council of Europe suggests a bureaucratic inertia that does not reflect the gravity of the situation. We must ask ourselves: why is Finland not leading by example when it comes to confronting Russian aggression? This delay sends the wrong message to both Ukraine and our allies, and it undermines Finland's own credibility on the international stage.

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I felt embarrassed when Finland was not among the first 19 founders.