
Cooperation between the Baltic States, Poland and the Nordic countries is becoming increasingly close in the face of the threat posed by Russia, said Edmunds Cepurītis, Chair of the European Affairs Committee of the Saeima, on Tuesday, 20 May. A meeting of the chairs of the European Affairs committees of the parliaments of the Baltic States (Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia), Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Poland took place at the Saeima.
Today’s discussions included points that the participants wish to highlight at the upcoming Conference of European Affairs Committees of the Parliaments of the European Union Member States (COSAC). These include support for Ukraine and holding Russia accountable, strengthening self-defence capabilities, as well as democracy and protecting elections from threats, Edmunds Cepurītis said.
The Chair of the Committee expressed his appreciation that the meeting was attended not only by Poland, which currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the EU, but also Denmark, which will hold the next Presidency, as this is important for representing the region’s interests.
The meeting participants also discussed the next multiannual financial framework and other issues related to the COSAC agenda. The meeting participants also visited the National Armed Forces (NAF) military base in Ādaži and limited liability company "BELSS", the largest defence sector communications integrator in Latvia.
The meeting was attended by Edmunds Cepurītis, Chair of the European Affairs Committee of the Saeima, Tali Peeter, Chair of the European Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu of Estonia, Arminas Lydeka, Deputy Chair of the European Affairs Committee of the Seimas of Lithuania, as well as Tomasz Grodzki, Chair of the European Affairs Committee of the Polish Senate, and Patryk Gabriel, Member of the European Affairs Committee of the Sejm of Poland. The meeting was also attended by Brigitte Klintskov Jerkel, Chair of the European Affairs Committee of the Folketing of Denmark, Erik Ottoson, Chair of the European Affairs Committee of the Riksdag of Sweden, and Miapetra Kumpula-Natri, Deputy Chair of the European Affairs Committee of the Eduskunta of Filand, as well as other delegates from the committees.
The attendees were also addressed by Liene Gātere, Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Jānis Sārts, Director of the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence (StratCom), Reinis Brusbārdis, Director of the European Union Coordination and Policies Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Kārlis Bukovskis, Director of the Latvian Institute of International Affairs.
Traditionally, twice a year, the chairs of the European Affairs committees of the parliaments of the Baltic States and Poland meet to discuss current European Union issues. This time, the event was held in an expanded format and was also attended by representatives from Denmark, Sweden and Finland. Such meetings strengthen cooperation ties, promote the exchange of views and help to find compromises in shaping policies that are in line with national interests.
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Saeima Press Service