Press release, 20 October 2014
A traditional meeting of Chairpersons of the Committees on Foreign Affairs of the Nordic and Baltic Parliaments took place in Trakai on 1920 October 2014. It brought together parliamentarians from Denmark, Estonia, Iceland, Norway, Finland, and Sweden. The meeting was chaired by Prof Benediktas Juodka, Chair of the Seimas Committee on Foreign Affairs.
The first session focused on the EUs Eastern Partnership policy and roles of the European Union and Russia in the common neighbourhood in the East of Europe. Relevant information on this matter was introduced to the parliamentarians by Dr Laurynas Kaščiūnas and Vytautas Keršanskas, analysts of the Eastern Europe Studies Centre, who participated in discussions as well. The experts said that the EUs Eastern Partnership policy faced serious challenges in the light of the obvious interests of Russia to maintain and strengthen its influence in the region. Therefore, the policy had to be reviewed accordingly, meanwhile strengthening the role of the EU. It is important to ensure that the conflicts created and kept frozen by Russia are not used as a barrier for those states, which aim at re-approachment with the EU, and that Russia would not eventually gain an unofficial veto over potential EU enlargement. Hence, the EU Eastern Partnership countries, which seek Euro-Atlantic integration, must be offered a clear prospect of EU membership. The experience of the Baltic States suggests that it is the prospect of membership that serves as the best spur for democratic reforms and spread of European values. It is therefore essential to rapidly pursue ratification of the European Unions Association Agreements with Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine at the national Parliaments of the EU Member States.
Photo by Plga Posaškova, the Seimas Office
The second session was devoted to discussions on increased cooperation among the Nordic and Baltic countries in order to implement the decisions adopted at the NATO Summit in Wales. The chairpersons were provided with insights about the matter by Dr Vaidotas Urbelis, Defence Policy Director of the Ministry of National Defence. The ensuing discussion stressed that proper and timely implementation of the decisions adopted by the heads of NATO states was an essential condition for the strengthening of European security. Discussion continued on the importance of NATO presence in the region, especially in the Baltic countries, as well as on the incidence of provocative Russian actions, particularly increased recently, in breach of airspace and territorial waters of NATO states and partners. Then, the meeting centred on the Arctic issues. Øyvind Halleraker, First Vice Chair of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence of the Storting, shared insights about the interests of the Nordic countries and Russia in the region and the influence of recent developments in the Arctic over regional security.
Summing up the discussions of both sessions, the chairpersons agreed that the security situation in Europe had changed substantially. Therefore, combatting new threats requires a uniform position and actions of EU and NATO member states and partners as well as increased cooperation between the Nordic and Baltic countries.
Milda Petrokaitė, Adviser to the Office of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, tel. +370 5 239 6835,
e-mail: [email protected]
