Radvilė Morkūnaitė-Mikulėnienė, Chair of the Seimas Committee on European Affairs: ‘Returning to normal life is not an option when there is an ongoing war in EU’s neighbourhood’

15 January 2024, Press release

Photo by the representative of the Office of the Committee on European Affairs

On 14–15 January 2024, Radvilė Morkūnaitė-Mikulėnienė, Chair of the Seimas Committee on European Affairs, took part in the Meeting of the Chairpersons of the Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs of Parliaments of the European Union (COSAC), which discussed the priorities of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, EU enlargement and its impact on the future of the Community as well as the European Pillar of Social Rights.

The first half of 2024 under the Belgian Presidency is a pivotal time for the EU, which is facing the challenges of dealing with the implications of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the energy crisis, the ongoing consequences of the pandemic, disinformation, the climate crisis, and the renewed conflict in the Middle East. ‘On this day 33 years ago in 1991, my parents and I, as a child, and thousands of Lithuanians took to the streets of Vilnius to defend the freedom of Lithuania. Back then, the Soviet troops killed 14 Lithuanians. The troops of the very same Russia are now killing the people of Ukraine. They also killed the people of Georgia. Therefore, I fully support our Ukrainian colleague and her statement on condemnation of Russia’s aggression and war crimes in Ukraine. I hope that the COSAC Meeting will express its position regarding the recent events in Ukraine,’ Ms Morkūnaitė-Mikulėnienė said in the meeting.

‘I would like to thank Belgium for presenting the priorities of its Presidency. But please, let us not forget Ukraine and help it in all possible ways, including through sanctions against Russia, freezing of assets and through military and humanitarian support. Returning to normal life is not an option when there is an ongoing war in EU’s neighbourhood,’ Ms Morkūnaitė- Mikulėnienė.

The Chair of the Committee also noted that one of the Belgian Presidency priorities was migration. She thanked the Spanish Presidency for its excellent work and her fellow counterparts for joining the initiative by Lithuania and Finland to recognise instrumentalisation of migration as a form of hybrid warfare in the EU law and asked them to remind MEPs from their respective countries to support the agreement on the Pact of Migration and Asylum reached during the trilogue (interinstitutional negotiations). Ms Morkūnaitė-Mikulėnienė also stressed that the EU had yet another important task to do, namely, to take decisions on possible ways to use frozen Russian assets for the reconstruction and recovery of Ukraine, ensuring not only that the proceeds from immobilised assets of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation are transferred to Ukraine, but also that the money is allocated to compensate for the damage caused by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

‘Thank you for the opportunity to be and work together. Let us defend Ukraine and let us defend Europe. This is the most important thing,’ Ms Morkūnaitė-Mikulėnienė said.

The Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs (COSAC) brings together the European Union Affairs Committees of national Parliaments and the European Parliament. The Conference, organised biannually by the Parliament of the Member State holding the Presidency of the Council of the EU at that time, enables a regular exchange of information and best practices between the committees of national Parliaments and representatives from the European Parliament.

The LXXI COSAC Plenary will be held on 24–26 March 2024.

Belgium is holding the Presidency of the Council of the EU from 1 January to 30 June 2024. Belgium has identified six priorities for its presidency, namely 1) defending the rule of law, democracy, and unity; 2) strengthening our competitiveness; 3) pursuing a green and just transition; 4) reinforcing our social and health agenda; 5) protecting people and borders; and 6) promoting a global Europe.

Photos by the representative of the Office of the Committee on European Affairs

Dainora Asevičienė, Head, Office of the Committee on European Affairs, tel. +370 5 209 6861