Leaders of EU member states agree to strengthen bloc's international role

  • 2021-10-07
  • LETA/TBT Staff

RIGA - Leaders of the European Union's member states at an informal meeting in Slovenia agreed on the necessity to strengthen the bloc's role in the world, Sandis Sabajevs, a spokesman for Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins (New Unity), told LETA. 

Karins attended the two-day informal European Council meeting in Ljubljana, Slovenia, in which EU leaders denounced the hybrid operation launched by Belarus' regime on the EU's external borders, debated potential solutions to the rapidly rising energy prices in Europe, as well as reapproved Western Balkan states' potential accession to the EU. 

The member states' leaders also discussed how to strengthen the EU's international role, its economic potential and defense capabilities. Karins argued in the discussion that the EU can increase its international role and develop its defense capabilities only if it develops cooperation with its closest ally - NATO - and transatlantic ties remain the cornerstone of the bloc's security.

Other topics discussed at the European Council meeting included the situation in Afghanistan, EU-China relations, as well as Belarus' hybrid operation against the EU. 

Regarding the increased energy prices and possible common solutions, the EU leaders agreed to discuss the issue in detail at the next European Council meeting slated for October 21-22 when the European Commission will have provided its proposals.