Helsinki wants to confirm its accession to NATO before the start of the general election campaign in March, when parliament adjourns.
The bill has enough support to pass easily.
Turkey and Hungary are the only NATO members that have still not ratified Finland and Sweden’s requests to join.
If Finland’s parliament approves the accession this month, the country could quickly become a full member of NATO, even if Turkey and Hungary ratify the accession during the election period when the parliament is closed.
It would also allow Finland to join without waiting for Sweden, whose accession is being held up by Turkey.
Hungary has announced that it could approve the two countries joining NATO this month.
It is expected that the Finnish Parliament will vote on NATO membership on February 28, the head of the Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Jusi Hallaaho, said at a press conference on Friday.
“It is good that this process has been completed in advance,” Prime Minister Sanna Marina explained in an interview with public broadcaster Yle. “Once the ratifications are completed in all countries, it will not be more than a few hours before we join NATO.”
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Tuesday for the first time entertained the possibility of Finland joining NATO without Sweden, saying simultaneous ratification of the two countries’ membership was not “the main issue”.
The Swedish government announced on Wednesday that it plans to submit a bill in March for parliament to approve the country’s membership in NATO.
