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On Wednesday, 5 February, the European Affairs Committee of the Saeima unanimously approved Latvia’s national position for the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union (EU), where the situation in Ukraine will be discussed. Latvia’s position states that Latvia supports the signing of the Association Agreement between the EU and Ukraine when Ukraine is ready to do so.

The Committee also requested the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to elaborate Latvia’s position on possible sanctions against certain Ukrainian officials and potential financial assistance to Ukraine from the EU.

“The situation in Ukraine is currently at the centre of global attention. Last weekend for the first time at such a high-level event as the Munich Security Conference, it was stressed that the EU must offer Ukraine an even wider array of opportunities and invite it to become a full-fledged member state in the future,” said Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, Chairperson of the Committee, in describing the topicality of the situation in Ukraine.

“It is also important that last weekend the chairpersons of European affairs committees of the national parliaments of the EU member states adopted a joint statement on the situation in Ukraine condemning all forms of violence, calling for an end to such actions and the resolution of the conflict through peaceful political dialogue,” Kalniņa-Lukaševica reported. She also stated that possible financial assistance to Ukraine is being discussed at the EU level.

At the meeting of the Committee, Viktors Makarovs, Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, informed the MPs that Latvia’s position on the Eastern Partnership, which includes Ukraine, emphasises that it is important to provide political and practical support to partner countries that are subjected to external pressure aimed at limiting their freedom of choice regarding EU integration. The position also states that the EU is open to Ukraine’s deeper political and economic EU integration on the basis of common values.

Makarovs also said that overall Latvia welcomes the results of the Eastern Partnership Summit, which was held in Vilnius at the end of last year, and development of the Eastern Partnership as a common policy of the EU ought to be continued by offering partner countries a wider range of cooperation options.

In the discussion on the situation in Ukraine and Latvia’s position on it, the members of the Committee touched upon several issues, including sources of financial aid to be potentially offered by the EU, possible actions by the EU in case the situation in Ukraine deteriorates, as well as the effectiveness of possible sanctions against certain Ukrainian officials.

At its next meeting on Friday, 7 February, the European Affairs Committee will take into consideration the latest developments and, if necessary, will decide on the need to amend Latvia’s position prior to the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council of the EU. 


Saeima Press Service