Nordic, Baltic parliamentary speakers to meet in Tallinn Friday

TALLINN - Speakers of the Nordic and Baltic parliaments are convening in Tallinn for their annual meeting on Friday to discuss support for Ukraine, cooperation between parliaments, and developing transatlantic relations, but also how to ensure the resilience of parliaments in possible crisis situations.

In a press release, the speaker of the Riigikogu, Lauri Hussar, emphasized the importance of close information exchange and fruitful cooperation in the current complicated security situation.

"We will discuss introducing new cooperation formats at the level of parliaments, and enhancing the cooperation between committees," Hussar said.

The program of the meeting includes planning for further joint activities to provide much-needed support to Ukraine. The focus of the discussion will be on enabling the use of Russia's frozen assets to help and rebuild Ukraine, he said.

In light of Russia's ongoing war of aggression in Ukraine and the increased hybrid threats directed against European countries, the speakers will also discuss how to ensure the resilience of parliaments in possible crisis situations.

"Parliaments must function with efficiency during crises, while continuing to fulfil their constitutional responsibilities, including making national defense decisions. The Board of the Riigikogu has approved a resilience plan and has practised different scenarios. We will also discuss the preparations and plans made in other countries to enhance our readiness for possible crises," Hussar said.

The speakers about to meet at the Estonian Statehood House, in addition to Hussar, are Þórunn Sveinbjarnardóttir from the parliament of Iceland, Daiga Mieriņa from the parliament of Latvia, Andreas Norlén from the parliament of Sweden, and Jussi Halla-aho from the parliament of Finland. The Norwegian and Lithuanian parliaments will be represented by vice presidents Svein Harberg and Juozas Olekas.

The speakers will also meet President Alar Karis on Friday. The secretaries general of the Nordic and Baltic parliaments will also meet in the framework of the speakers' meeting.