Finland's parliament approves lifting nuclear weapons ban

The bill was passed on Wednesday with 125 lawmakers voting in favor and 61 against, while 13 members were absent. The legislation now awaits approval from the president before it can enter into force.

Under the proposed changes, nuclear weapons could be brought into, transported through, supplied in, or possessed in Finland if required for the country's national defense.

The decision repeals provisions in Finland's Nuclear Energy Act, introduced in the 1980s, that prohibited the import, production, possession and detonation of nuclear explosives.

Following the vote, Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen described the amendment as a historic reform, saying it would strengthen Finland's security as well as that of the NATO alliance. He also thanked lawmakers who supported the legislation and defense officials involved in preparing the proposal.

Earlier, Qazinform News Agency reported that Finland is set to launch world's first permanent nuclear waste repository.