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MPs of the Baltic States believe that dialogue with all Eastern Partnership countries should be maintained and that new ways should be sought to support their EU aspirations. Ojārs Ēriks Kalniņš, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Saeima, reported that the Eastern Partnership was among the key issues discussed during the annual meeting of members of the foreign affairs committees of the Baltic parliaments held on Friday, 13 June.

“Perhaps the approach used in bringing all Eastern Partnership countries closer to the European Union has to be changed because in the current geopolitical situation it is important to strengthen the region’s security,” said the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Saeima.

“During our meeting we also discussed the upcoming NATO summit in autumn, as well as the highlights in NATO’s strategic development. We believe that NATO must continue its open door policy and send clear signals of its readiness to welcome Georgia to the security alliance,” emphasised Kalniņš.

“When discussing facilitation of security in our region and in the border areas of Russia in general, we agreed that the events in Ukraine point to a need to clarify Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, which provides that an armed attack against one NATO member state is considered an attack against all of them. When reviewing the definitions of threats and attacks, NATO member states must think of ways to respond properly to security threats. We also believe that it is crucial to develop a common security strategy for the Baltic region,” noted Ojārs Ēriks Kalniņš.

“We are certain that all NATO member states should agree on imposing an arms embargo on Russia, and we hope that France will reverse its decision to sell two Mistral-class assault ships to Russia,” informed the Chairman Kalniņš.

The agenda of the meeting of the members of the foreign affairs committees of the Baltic parliaments also included negotiations on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership between the European Union and the United States. “This agreement will contribute to the economy by removing trade barriers and facilitating trade in goods and services, as well as serve as a political agreement, strengthening the transatlantic bonds and bringing the European Union and the United States closer,” indicated Ojārs Ēriks Kalniņš.

On 13 June a delegation of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Estonian Riigokogu headed by the Chairman Marko Mihkelson and a delegation of the Committee of Foreign Affairs of the Lithuanian Seimas headed by the Chairman Benediktas Juodka visited the Saeima. 



Saeima Press Service