The Chairs of the Foreign Affairs Committees of the Latvian, Lithuanian, and Estonian parliaments have issued a joint statement expressing support for Ukraine’s path to full membership in the European Union (EU) by 1 January 2030, as well as for Ukraine’s progress towards NATO accession. The statement also includes a commitment to promote Ukraine’s participation in the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF).
In the joint statement, Chair of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee Ināra Mūrniece, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Lithuanian Seimas Remigijus Motuzas, and Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Estonian Riigikogu Marko Mikhelson express their support for Ukraine’s NATO membership in line with the decisions of the 2008 Bucharest, 2023 Vilnius, and 2024 Washington NATO Summits, all of which clearly affirm that Ukraine’s future lies within the North Atlantic Alliance. The committee chairs call for concrete political decisions at the upcoming NATO Summit in The Hague that would pave the way for Ukraine’s accession to the Alliance.
Chair of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee Ināra Mūrniece emphasises: “Ukraine’s victory over Russian aggression and its membership in NATO will establish a just and lasting peace not only in Ukraine, but throughout Europe, and will also provide a more effective and resilient foundation for the long-term preservation of European and transatlantic security.”
In their statement, the Chairs of the Foreign Affairs Committees of the Baltic States reiterate their strong and unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. They call on the Foreign Affairs Committees of other national parliaments, international parliamentary assemblies, governments, and relevant institutions to adopt similar decisions to ensure consistent and resolute support for Ukraine’s victory, reconstruction, and full integration into the European and transatlantic community.
“In full agreement with our Baltic colleagues, we are committed to continuing all diplomatic and political efforts to isolate Russia and its supporters, to broaden and strengthen sanctions, and to ensure that Russia bears full legal and political responsibility for the crimes committed against Ukraine,” says Ināra Mūrniece.
At their annual meeting, held this year in Birštonas, Lithuania, members of the Foreign Affairs Committees of the Baltic parliaments discussed joint solutions to address the various geopolitical challenges faced by the Baltic States and Europe as a whole. The parliamentarians also exchanged views on measures to accelerate the development of the EU’s military industry and heard a presentation by Simonas Šatūnas, Head of Cabinet of European Commission Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius, on the financial instruments available to EU Member States, as well as those planned in the near future to support the development of the military industry and enhance national defence capabilities.
To address current security challenges, the parliamentarians met with Lithuanian Minister of Defence Dovilė Šakalienė and visited the Lithuanian Armed Forces military base in Alytus.
Latvia was represented at the meeting by Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee Ināra Mūrniece and Deputy Chair of the Committee Irma Kalniņa.
Saeima Press Service