Finland\u2019s State Audit Office has raised concerns over the way the financial impact of the country\u2019s Nato membership has been presented, saying decision-makers lacked a full picture of the costs when the accession process moved forward.<\/p>\n
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The findings appear in a new audit report<\/a> that examined Finland\u2019s preparation for Nato membership, decision-making procedures and the economic consequences that followed the country\u2019s entry into the alliance in April 2023. The report concludes that the overall process worked well, but identifies gaps in cost assessments and information flow between authorities and Parliament.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n The audit found that ministers and lawmakers did not have access to an estimate of the scale of indirect Nato-related costs when Finland decided to join the alliance. While the government projected direct annual membership costs of between \u20ac70 million and \u20ac100 million during the accession phase, broader obligations linked to Nato commitments were not fully quantified.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n According to the report, those indirect costs are substantially higher than the direct expenses associated with membership fees and participation in Nato structures. They include spending linked to implementing alliance requirements, maintaining readiness levels and contributing to collective defence activities during peacetime.<\/p>\n
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