Latvian MEPs express concern about prominence of security issues in EC President's Speech

RIGA - Members of the European Parliament (EP) representing Latvia have mixed views on European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the European Union address (EU) - some welcome the plan to cooperate more closely with Canada and the expressed support for Ukraine, while others express concerns about the funding of new initiatives and the direction of European security policy.

MEP Inese Vaidere (New Unity) highlighted the large number of new initiatives as a positive aspect, but she expressed doubts about how all of these plans could be implemented. In her view, it is also important to assess what has not been accomplished from previous commitments. As one example, the MEP cited defense against drones, criticizing the situation in which relatively inexpensive drones are shot down using disproportionately expensive military assets.

The MEP also criticized the fact that a solution regarding the use of Russia’s frozen assets has still not been reached. She questioned whether Belgium’s objections should hinder the achievement of such a solution, emphasizing that the funds are needed both to support Ukraine and for Europe’s own defense.

Vaidere, however, viewed von der Leyen’s proposal to establish a European Security Council positively, particularly highlighting the plan to involve Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and Canada in this format. She acknowledged that it is not yet clear how this council will function, adding that it should not be established as an alternative to NATO. In the MEP’s view, NATO and the collective defense guarantees enshrined in its Article 5 remain the foundation of security.

MEP Martins Stakis (P) highlighted von der Leyen’s proposal for Canada to become the EU’s first associated member state as a significant development. He emphasized that Canada is a particularly important security partner for Latvia and that bringing it closer to the EU is of strategic importance.

Stakis suggested that a similar status could, in the future, serve as an alternative even in situations where objections from individual member states might hinder the full admission of an EU candidate country.

"This is an alternative status through which we could move forward without closing the door on that country," said Stakis, adding that von der Leyen’s plan to first offer such status to Canada is a far-sighted step.

Meanwhile, MEP Sandra Kalniete (New Unity) urged caution in drawing conclusions about the specifics of the associate member status offered to Canada, since von der Leyen announced this initiative during her speech and it is not yet clear exactly what such status would entail.

The MEP noted that the EU already has association agreements with many countries, so it remains to be clarified whether the EC President intended associated member state status to denote a new and closer model of partnership.

She also explained that this would be a serious decision requiring a resolution by the Council of the European Union, but, depending on the chosen legal form, the matter could also be brought before the European Parliament. Kalniete considers closer cooperation between Canada and the EU to be significant in the context of both security and Arctic policy. She pointed to Russia’s and China’s interest in the Arctic and emphasized that Europe, too, must pay greater attention to this region.

The MEP also reminded Canada’s military presence in Latvia and its investments at the Adazi base, and therefore, in her view, security and military cooperation could become a significant part of closer EU-Canada relations.

MEP Ivars Ijabs (For Latvia's Development) described von der Leyen’s annual address as a ritual event in which the EC President attempts to address various audiences, though he assessed this year’s speech critically overall. He noted that the speech covered a wide range of issues, including climate, migration, competitiveness, and technology, but that it lacked discussion of the defense of the eastern border and investment.

Ijabs reminded that initiatives to strengthen the EU’s eastern border had been proposed previously, including measures related to protection against drones, but this time these issues were not among the main points of the speech. He viewed positively von der Leyen’s remarks on EU competitiveness and technological development, including the need to focus more on industrial and manufacturing solutions in the field of artificial intelligence, rather than attempting to replicate the development path of large language models taken by the US and China.

He also emphasized that von der Leyen’s remarks demonstrate that there is still a consensus within EU institutions on the issue of support for Ukraine. In the MEP’s view, the speech did not address certain issues that deserve greater attention, such as Russia’s frozen assets.

MEP Reinis Poznaks (United List) highlighted as the most significant positive message the fact that security and defense remain among the EU’s priorities and that support for Ukraine is set to be strengthened. He also welcomed the plan to build closer relations with Canada, emphasizing that as Europe strives for greater autonomy, it simultaneously needs partners. The MEP highlighted Canada’s technological capabilities and natural resources.

MEP Roberts Zile (National Alliance), however, was critical of von der Leyen’s proposals on security. He emphasized that some of these threats are already having a direct impact on people’s daily lives, citing examples such as school closures, disruptions to train service, or difficulties accessing healthcare.

Zile reminded the previously announced initiatives to strengthen the EU’s eastern flank and defense against drones, expressing dissatisfaction with the pace of their implementation and the level of funding. In his view, von der Leyen’s speech also lacked an assessment of which of the initiatives to date have been successful and which have not.

Zile also took a critical view of the plan to establish a European Security Council and new security mechanisms. He is not convinced by the idea of creating new structures parallel to NATO, as this, in his view, could take a long time without providing an immediate practical contribution to the security of the Baltic states. However, the EP Vice President acknowledged that closer cooperation with Canada is beneficial for both Europe and Canada in the current situation.

MEP Nils Usakovs (Harmony) emphasized that von der Leyen’s speech contained several symbolic messages-and ones of regional significance-regarding security and the economy; but for him, the most important issue is the financial coverage of these plans. In his view, the new taxes mentioned in the EC President’s speech will not be sufficient to provide additional funding for the EU’s current ambitions, let alone new initiatives.

According to the MEP, the question of where the EU will obtain the funds to both strengthen security and support border regions remains unanswered. He emphasized that in border regions, it is necessary not only to fund military infrastructure but also to support the people living there.