The vote was 110 to 47. Most MPs from the Finns Party voted against it, as did some Centre representatives. Forty-two MPs were absent, a higher figure than usual.

Since the Ottawa Convention was launched in Canada in 1997, nearly 160 countries have ratified it, with 36 refusing to do so. Non-signatories include Russia, China, Israel, Iran and the US.

Finland is the only EU country not to sign the pact. It has long insisted it needs landmines to protect its 1300-kilometre border with Russia. However now it developing more high-tech methods to safeguard its borders.

The government plans to sign the treaty next year.

Finland still has more than a million land mines in stock, and a budget of 200 million euros earmarked to replace them until 2016.