With every decision we make, we create the European security environment of the future - Smiltens

  • 2023-03-17
  • LETA/TBT Staff

RIGA - We must be more and more aware that with every decision we make, or also by avoiding making decisions, we create the future European security environment, the new basis of the security architecture, the Speaker of the Saeima Edvards Smiltens (United List) said today at the opening of the conference "Baltic and Nordic EU negotiations 2023: more united than ever?".

As LETA was informed by the Press Service of the Saeima, the Speaker of the Saeima told the audience that, so that the foreign policy agenda and decisions made by others do not enter our daily lives, we ourselves - both Latvia at the national level and the European Union - must actively create the foreign policy environment in which we will live.

In Smiltens' opinion, the Baltic states, the Nordic countries and Poland are like-minded countries with a very close understanding of security. In addition, the past year clearly demonstrates that together we are able to make a significant contribution to strengthening the European Union's capacity to act, Smiltens said.

The Speaker of the Saeima noted that currently many of the decisions taken at the national level seem self-evident, but we got the political courage to implement them only from Ukraine's heroic struggle against Russian aggression. Similar observations are true of our actions at the European Union level.

However, the story of the European Union's ability to act after February 24, 2022 is completely positive, emphasized the Speaker of the Saeima. From day one, we were able to demonstrate unity and make decisive decisions, both supporting Ukraine's capabilities and reducing our dependence and vulnerability on Russia. Some of the decisions are truly historic - already today we are financing Ukraine's military capabilities from the common budget of the European Union. We hope that soon we will also conduct the first joint military procurement of the European Union to strengthen Ukraine and our own military capabilities, emphasized Smiltens.

The Speaker of the Saeima called for a targeted strengthening of Europe's economic stability and adaptation of the military industry to a time of war and the obviously subsequent prolonged confrontation between the right of force and the force of law. The environment around us should be created equally, purposefully and safely - by expanding the space of a united, free and safe Europe, which includes both Ukraine within the borders of 1991, as well as the Balkan region, Moldova and Georgia, said Smiltens.

"Today, the European Union is indeed more united than ever. However, European and transatlantic unity is not a state that can be achieved once, but rather a process that also requires our continuous investment and new initiatives," said Smiltens.