On 24 September 1994, one month before the referendum held in Finland on the country’s accession to the European Union, Martti Ahtisaari, President of Finland, gives his views on the issue of the country’s independence in the European Union.

In a report published in the Spanish daily newspaper El País on 9 October 1994, the day before the referendum on Finland's accession to the European Union, the Finnish President, Martti Ahtisaari, discusses the implications of European accession on the future of his country.

On 16 October 1994, following the referendum held in Finland on the country’s accession to the European Union, a majority of 56.9 % of Finnish people vote in favour of accession. The photo shows Martti Ahtisaari, President of the Republic of Finland, putting his ballot paper in the ballot box.

On 16 October 1994, a national referendum is held in Finland to ask the people to vote for or against the country’s accession to the European Union. After the votes are counted, 56.9 % are found to have voted in favour of accession.

On 16 October 1994, Martti Ahtisaari, President of the Republic of Finland, delivers a televised address in which he welcomes the positive outcome of the referendum held the same day on Finland’s accession to the European Union.

On 18 October 1994, commenting on the positive result of the referendum held on 16 October in Finland for the ratification of the Treaty of Accession to the European Union, the French daily newspaper Le Figaro emphasises the importance of this accession for Northern Europe.

On 18 October 1994, commenting on the positive result of the referendum held two days earlier in Finland on the country’s accession to the European Union, the French daily newspaper Le Monde outlines the reasons for this choice made by the Finnish people and attempts to gauge the effect that it will have on the referenda to be held in Sweden and Norway.