Only now is the EU offering Finland what most of its citizens expected from it all along, Karjalainen writes:

“When the Finns were considering whether joining the EU was worthwhile in the first half of the 1990s, security policy was at the top of their list, ahead of trade and easier travel. It was the same for the politicians even though they didn't say so as openly as the people. If it hadn't been for the Russian border and the experiences of World War II, like Norway Finland would probably have decided to stay outside the EU. The Finns' belief that the EU would offer them more security was perhaps a little naive in the 90s. Because it was only on Monday that the first significant step towards closer cooperation on defence was taken.”