Gallery

On Thursday, 9 October, Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima, took part in a discussion, titled “Strengthening the Case for WB Enlargement: How can the Baltics Help?”, held during the Rīga Conference 2025—the largest security and foreign policy forum in the Nordic region. The discussion focused on analysing the situation in the Western Balkans and exploring how the Baltic States can contribute and support the region’s path toward EU membership, as well as help counter threats, mainly Russia’s destabilizing efforts, along the way.

Kalniņa-Lukaševica emphasized that EU enlargement is a process based on a shared vision of values, the rule of law, and a stable, democratic, and prosperous Europe. Therefore, it is essential that countries aspiring to join the EU are supported, but also encouraged to meet the high standards that ensure sustainable progress.

During the discussion, she highlighted that the experience of the Baltic States demonstrates that purposeful reforms and public participation can strengthen democracy, security, and social resilience. “Resilience is not built in a single day—it is the result of education, civic engagement, and the strengthening of democratic institutions. Our experience on the path toward the EU and the community of democratic European nations can be valuable to the Western Balkan countries, which are currently facing challenges similar to those we once faced,” said Kalniņa-Lukaševica.

She emphasised that both political will and commitment to shared values and security principles are crucial on the path to EU membership. “The doors of the European Union are wide open, but every country must walk through them on its own,” stated the Deputy Speaker of the Saeima.

During the discussion, Kalniņa-Lukaševica drew attention to the fact that anti-EU membership narratives were propagated when the Baltic States were on their way to joining the European Union, and it still continues today. Now, however, disinformation campaigns are organized and financed by external forces whose goal is to “steal” democracy and national sovereignty.

Latvia can and does successfully help counter Russian disinformation campaigns in countries who want to join the European Union. One recent example is Moldova’s election, where the transfer of Latvia’s experience in strategic communication played an important role in the pro-Western outcome, noted Kalniņa-Lukaševica.

She therefore particularly emphasized the need to strengthen independent media, combat disinformation, and promote media literacy among all members of society as the essential prerequisites for the sustainability of democracy in the Baltic States, the Western Balkans, and other regions of Europe.

Alongside Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima, the discussion also featured Daliborka Uljarević, Executive Director of the Centre for Civic Education in Montenegro; Agon Maliqi, Non-resident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council; journalist Bojan Elek; Edo Kanlić, Advocacy and Public Policy Manager at Transparency International in Bosnia and Herzegovina; and Marija Golubeva, Chair of the Baltic–European Reform Initiative Council.

Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/saeima/albums/72177720329550931/
Disclaimer & copyright: https://saeima.lv/en/copyright

Saeima Press Service