​​Speaker Matti Vanhanen ​​participated in the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Vilnius on 30 May. Vanhanen and the Speaker of the Swedish Parliament Andreas Norlén were invited to address the Assembly. The NATO Parliamentary Assembly is attended by delegates from the NATO countries. It also includes associate countries and observers.

In his speech, Vanhanen addressed Russian ​invasion of Ukraine, reasons for ​​Finland's NATO application and ​empasised Finland's role as a security provider.

"We are confident that Finland’s membership would increase stability in the Baltic Sea region and strengthen the security of all of Europe. We are a security provider, not consumer and our decision is not against anyone."​

Speakers Vanhanen and Norlén also had a meeting with NATO Deputy Secretary General ​Mircea Geoană​ and President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Gerald E. Connolly.​​

​Read Speaker Vanhanen's address to the NATO ​​Parliamentary Assembly