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Diplomats in Brussels with whom Radio Free Europe spoke, both in NATO and in the European Union, are of the opinion that the membership of Sweden and Finland in general will contribute to increasing security on the European continent, but also in the Balkan region. Western.
These two countries have been active for years in the Western Balkans region, both within the EU, but also as NATO partners, actively participating in NATO missions in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in Kosovo.
Although now the number of Finnish soldiers in KFOR has been reduced to 20, for more than 20 years soldiers from this country have made a significant contribution to this mission, even having a larger number of soldiers than some NATO member states. s.
Sweden, which now has a symbolic number of soldiers in this alliance mission in Kosovo, has also made a significant contribution to KFOR. Between 1999 and 2013, more than 1,000 soldiers from Sweden participated in the NATO mission in Kosovo.
“Given the contribution that Finland and Sweden have made and continue to make to NATO missions and operations, there will be no major change with their membership in the alliance. But for these countries, the big difference will be that they will also participate in decision-making as a full member of the alliance.“, Said Lirë, a Western diplomat in Brussels.
The Western Balkans, in particular Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo, have been areas where co-operation between the EU and NATO has been best demonstrated on the ground, where these institutions have shared tasks.
NATO in Kosovo continues to be the main guarantor of security in the military aspect, while the EU has more tasks in the political, economic aspect, as well as in the civil security aspects, through the Rule of Law Mission, EULEX.
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