Strong Eastern flank means safer Europe - Silina

RIGA - A strong Eastern flank of Europe means a safer Europe as a whole, Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina (New Unity) stressed today at the summit of the leaders of the Eastern Flank countries organized by Finnish Prime Minister Peteri Orpo in Helsinki.

The Prime Minister's adviser, Anna Udre, told LETA that Silina attended the summit together with the heads of state and government of Finland, Sweden, Poland, Estonia, Lithuania, Romania and Bulgaria.

Silina said that Russia is a long-term threat to Europe's security and it is the countries of the Eastern flank that feel this threat most acutely. "Every day we guard the external borders of the EU and NATO on land, in the air and at sea, while facing hybrid threats and attempts at sabotage," the Prime Minister said.

The summit's agenda included the security situation in the region, assessing the long-term threat posed by Russia to Europe, and discussing practical ways of cooperation within the EU and NATO. Particular attention was paid to strengthening the EU-NATO eastern border, developing defense capabilities, air and missile defense, improving military mobility and enhancing civilian and military resilience.

The summit adopted a joint declaration of the Eastern flank countries, in which leaders agreed on the need to further strengthen Europe's Eastern flank on land, in the air, at sea, in cyberspace and in outer space, and to further increase defense investment through close coordination within the EU and NATO.

At the summit, Silina placed particular emphasis on strengthening the security of the EU's external borders, including land border protection and critical infrastructure security, developing air and missile defense capabilities, and improving military mobility.

The leaders also reaffirmed their continued support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression, stressing that Ukraine's security is an integral part of Europe's security.