Speaker of the Seimas in Poland: ‘We are deepening parliamentary cooperation in the areas of European security and our support for Ukraine’

Press release, 11 June 2024

Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, Speaker of the Seimas, states that the Lublin Triangle meeting currently bringing together the Baltic, Polish and Ukrainian parliamentary speakers in Białystok, Republic of Poland, reflects the shift of the European centre of political power towards our region. This change brings not only new status, but also greater responsibility for the future of our country, Ukraine and Europe.

‘First of all, I highlight closer strategic partnership and coordination. It is now more evident than ever that parliamentary cooperation takes on obvious importance. The unprovoked Russian military aggression against Ukraine constitutes an attack on the fundamental values of the international community and the Charter of the United Nations. In their turn, parliaments are keen on protecting these values and, therefore, need proper coordination of the legislative process to uphold democratic laws,’ has said Ms Čmilytė-Nielsen at the meeting.

According to the Speaker of the Seimas, the future of Europe now necessitates making use of all bilateral, regional and transatlantic cooperation formats as well as getting the most of the parliamentary diplomacy, collective strength and commitment, the Polish-Baltic-Ukrainian Culture Chain, local initiatives and cross-border projects.

‘Indeed, many areas allow for parliamentary cooperation. Today, the Speakers of our five national parliaments signed a declaration. We have committed ourselves to deepening our parliamentary cooperation in the areas of European security and our support for Ukraine,’ states Ms Čmilytė-Nielsen. 

The Speaker of the Seimas says that a condition for ensuring sustainable peace in Europe is to secure Ukraine’s place in Euro-Atlantic structures. Therefore, time and again, the Speakers note in the declaration that the NATO Summit in Washington in July should contribute to defining irreversible Ukraine’s path to membership. The expectation is that the first intergovernmental conference to open accession talks with Ukraine is to be held no later than June 2024. 

‘Poland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania support Ukraine and are ready to share the experience of 20 years of their membership in the European Union,’ says Ms Čmilytė-Nielsen. 

Click for the full text of the declaration in English HERE

Ilona Petrovė, Spokesperson for Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, Speaker of the Seimas, tel. +370 5 209 6030, mob. +370 698 42071, e-mail: [email protected] www.lrs.lt