Delegation of Members of the Committee on European Affairs to COSAC: EU hybrid-threat response – enhanced EU defence forces and tougher restrictive measures on attackers

Press release, 1 December 2025 (News ●  Photos ● Broadcasts and Videos)

A delegation of the Seimas Committee on European Affairs attended the LXXIV plenary meeting of the Conference of Parliamentary Committees for European Union Affairs (COSAC) in Copenhagen from 30 November to 2 December 2025. The delegation comprised Rasa Budbergytė, Chair of the Committee, Deputy Chairs Ruslanas Baranovas and Arminas Lydeka, and Committee Member Radvilė Morkūnaitė-Mikulėnienė.

In her address, Ms Budbergytė congratulated the Danish Presidency on the steps taken towards building a resilient, secure, and future-ready Europe.

‘Russia and Belarus are stepping up their hybrid attacks against the EU and its neighbours, while Lithuania continues to counter the Belarusian hybrid threat, in particular smuggling by hot-air balloons. In this light, we need to maintain pressure on aggressors not only by calling to strengthen our defence capabilities, but also through further restrictive measures,’ she underlined.

‘The specific situation on the Eastern Flank needs more attention. In this regard, we welcome EU’s flagship initiatives ‘Eastern Flank Watch’ and ‘European Drone Defence’, which will complement the ongoing national projects. Implementation of Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030 must be backed by appropriate EU funding for defence and military mobility in the next Multiannual Financial Framework,’ she stressed.

Ms Budbergytė also noted that Lithuania supports Denmark’s efforts to strengthen the EU’s competitiveness and promote sustainable industrial transformation, and endorses the European Parliament’s more ambitious proposal to set earlier dates for phasing out Russian gas and oil.

The LXXIV COSAC plenary session addressed a wide range of issues on the European political agenda, reflecting current geopolitical, economic, and environmental challenges. The first session focused on Europe’s role in a rapidly changing world, debating the priorities of the Danish Presidency and the ways to strengthen European resilience to geopolitical tensions, maintain economic stability, and respond more effectively to global challenges. The second session concentrated on EU trade policy in an increasingly volatile international environment, with discussions on Europe’s economic security, trade relations with strategic partners, sustainability of supply chains, and measures to safeguard European competitiveness while reducing dependencies and strengthening strategic autonomy.

COSAC (Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs) brings together members of the European Parliament and the Committees on European Affairs of EU Member States. It is a biannual forum that can adopt proposals addressed to the European Parliament, the Council, and the Commission. The Conference promotes the exchange of information and best practices between national Parliaments and the European Parliament.

Denmark holds the Presidency of the Council of the EU from 1 July to 31 December 2025.

Dovilė Paužaitė-Šliachtovič, Adviser, Office of the Seimas Committee on European Affairs,

tel. +370 5 239 6763

Aistė Pikiotienė, Adviser, Office of the Seimas Committee on European Affairs, 

tel. +370 5 239 6864