EU needs effective and principled common foreign policy - MP Kols

RIGA - The European Union (EU) needs an affective and at the same time principled common foreign policy, Rihards Kols (National Alliance), chairman of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee, said during a meeting with representatives of the French Ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs in Paris on Wednesday. 

"The EU cannot afford a nearsighted policy. An effective strategy is needed to prevent that. This requires higher efficiency and also a principled common foreign policy that would ensure continuity and reduce the bloc's dependence on various election cycles," the Saeima press service quoted Kols as saying. 

Kols and the foreign affairs committee chairs of the Estonian and Lithuanian parliaments met in Paris with Lieutenant General Luc de Rancourt, Deputy Director General for International Relations and Strategy of the French Defense Ministry, to discuss security and defense matters. 

"Although our priorities, just like our geographical location and related geopolitical risks, may be somewhat different, we see that our French colleagues have an understanding and in-depth knowledge of the challenges we are facing here in the Baltic states. Close cooperation based on a clear strategy will help strengthen these ties also in the future," Kols said following the meeting. 

The Baltic lawmakers' meeting with David Cvach, Director for European Affairs at the French Foreign Ministry, and Jonathan Lacote, Deputy Director General for Political and Security Affairs, focused on the EU's political and social unity and principles of common strategies.