It's often claimed that Finland gained independence in 1917, but when you look at the facts, the Grand Duchy of Finland under the Russian Emperor had a surprising level of real autonomy in key areas, far more than what Finland has now inside the European Union and NATO.

During the time of autonomy there was a clear official border between Finland and the rest of Russia, even though they shared the same ruler. Passports and entry permits were required in both directions. Finns needed official passports to go to Russia, and Russians needed proper documents to enter Finland. Finnish authorities carried out the checks. Finland also had its own customs territory and its own tariff system. Goods crossing the border were subject to duties. Finland truly controlled its own territory and protected its internal order.

Today the situation is very different. Thanks to the Schengen Area and EU rules, Finland has given up real control over its borders. We cannot independently decide who enters the country, and EU migration policies bind us directly.

Finland also had its own legal system and its own parliament that legislated on Finnish matters. Russian laws did not automatically apply here. The country had its own Senate acting as a government and its own courts. Finnish affairs were handled by Finns.

Now EU directives and regulations override national law in massive areas. Our parliament often just implements decisions made in Brussels, where Finland is only one voice among many. Real legislative power has been moved to the Union level.

In addition, Finland had its own currency, the Finnish markka, which was put on a stable silver and later gold standard. This gave Finland monetary independence and protected it from Russian economic crises.

Today we use the euro. The European Central Bank decides interest rates and monetary policy for the entire eurozone. Finland has lost the ability to pursue its own monetary policy or devalue the currency in a crisis.

Finland even had its own army. The conscript army established in 1878 had a clear rule in law: Finnish soldiers could only be used for the defense of Finland itself and could not be sent to fight in the Empire's distant wars.

Now our defense is integrated into NATO. While we still have Finnish troops, strategic decisions, command structures, and collective obligations tie us tightly to the alliance. We no longer have the same level of independent control over our military.

In the era of the Grand Duchy, Finland fiercely protected its own laws, own currency, own borders, and own army for its own defense. It had rights that no other part of the Russian Empire enjoyed. Today, in the name of European integration and collective security, we have surrendered those core elements of sovereignty: no own currency, no real border control, laws coming from Brussels, and military integration into NATO.

Finland actually had more genuine self-rule as an autonomous Grand Duchy than it does today as a modern EU and NATO member state.