Silina urges EU colleagues to reassess existing restrictions on investment in defense

  • 2025-02-05
  • LETA/TBT Staff

RIGA - Europe needs to ensure that the Union (EU) can invest more in defense and address the constraints imposed by budgetary and fiscal rules, Prime Minister Evika Silina (New Unity) stressed at the informal European Council meeting on Tuesday.

According to Elina Lidere, the Prime Minister's adviser on strategic communication, Silina discussed the future of EU defense with other EU heads of state and government at the European Council.

Following the leaders' meeting, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen promised that an assessment would be made on how to provide more flexibility in fiscal rules to encourage investment in defense and security.

The Prime Minister also drew the attention of other leaders to the need to do this now and not wait until the next EU multi-annual budget, for which formal negotiations have not yet started.

The vision of other EU leaders coincides with Latvia's priorities to strengthen the EU's defense capabilities and find ways to increase investment in defense and security.

The European Council also underlined the importance of transatlantic relations and the role of the UK as a defense partner, as well as the need for closer cooperation between the EU and NATO.

As an external border of the EU and NATO, these are very topical issues for Latvia and the commitment of EU leaders to invest in strengthening defense will also improve security for the Latvian people, notes Silina.