Chairs of Foreign Affairs Committees of Baltic parliaments express support for Ukraine's membership of EU and NATO

RIGA - The chairs of the Foreign Affairs Committees of the Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian parliaments have issued a joined statement expressing support for Ukraine's accession to the European Union by January 1, 2030, as well as Ukraine's path to NATO membership, LETA was told at the Saeima press office.

In their statement, the parliamentarians promise to encourage an invitation for Ukraine to join the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF).

Inara Murniece (National Alliance), Chair of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee, Remigijus Motuzas, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Lithuania's Seimas, and Marko Mihkelson, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Estonia's Riigikogu, express support for Ukraine’s path towards NATO membership, in line with the decisions of the Bucharest (2008), Vilnius (2023), and Washington (2024) NATO Summits, which clearly affirmed that Ukraine’s future is in NATO. The lawmakers call on the upcoming 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague to

take concrete political steps that would pave the way for Ukraine’s accession to the Alliance.

The chairs of the Foreign Affairs Committees of the Baltic parliaments reaffirm their strong support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and call upon the Foreign Affairs Committees of other national parliaments, international parliamentary assemblies, governments, and responsible institutions to endorse this statement and to adopt corresponding actions that would ensure continued and determined support for Ukraine’s

victory, reconstruction, and full integration into the Euro-Atlantic community.

"My Baltic colleagues and I agree that we must continue to pursue all diplomatic and political efforts to isolate Russia and its supporters, extend and strengthen sanctions, and ensure that Russia bears full legal and political responsibility for the crimes committed against Ukraine," said Murniece.

At this year's annual meeting in Birstonas, Lithuania, members of the Foreign Affairs Committees of the Baltic parliaments discussed how to jointly tackle the various geopolitical challenges facing the Baltic states and the whole of Europe. They also exchanged views on measures to accelerate the development of the EU military industry. To discuss current security challenges, the parliamentarians met with Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene and visited Lithuania's military base in Alytus.