The European Union has acknowledged the intentions of several member states, including Finland, to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention, which bans anti-personnel landmines.
Anouar El Anouni, a European Commission spokesperson, confirmed the plans of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Finland to exit the treaty.
Signed in 1997 and effective from 1999, the Ottawa Convention prohibits the use, stockpiling, production, and transfer of anti-personnel mines.
Poland and the Baltic States announced their decision to withdraw on March 1, while Finland began its withdrawal preparations on April 1.
