Government issues decrees on NATO SOFA and Paris Protocol

On 25 April 2024, the government plenary session issued decrees on the Agreement between the Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty regarding the Status of their Forces (NATO SOFA) and on the Protocol on the Status of International Military Headquarters set up pursuant to the North Atlantic Treaty (Paris Protocol). The NATO SOFA regulates the legal status of forces of NATO Member States while in the territory of another NATO Member State in connexion with their official duties. The Paris Protocol extends, with certain adaptations, the provisions of NATO SOFA to NATO Allied Headquarters and their military and civilian personnel.

 

Parliament accepted the SOFA and the Protocol on 19 March 2024, and the President of the Republic approved them on 22 March 2024.

Finland deposited its instruments of accession to the SOFA and the Protocol with the depositary, the Government of the United States, on 28 March 2024. The SOFA and the Protocol will enter into force 30 days after the date of deposit of the instruments of accession, i.e. on 27 April 2024.

The government decrees bring into force the NATO SOFA, the Paris Protocol and the acts bringing into force their provisions of a legislative nature. The issuance of the decrees completes the national approval process. At the same time, the instruments are transposed into Finnish legislation.