Arminas Lydeka, Deputy Chair of the Seimas Committee on European Affairs: changes in the geopolitical situation require wider understanding of security

Press release, 30 October 2024 

On 27–29 October 2024, Arminas Lydeka, Deputy Chair of the Committee on European Affairs, took part in the LXXII Plenary Meeting of the Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs (COSAC) in Hungary (find more on the Plenary Meeting here).

During the discussion on security and defence, Mr Lydeka highlighted the significant changes in the geopolitical landscape. Today’s challenges necessitate a much greater focus on security and defence issues and a broader perspective on security than previously considered. ‘At the meeting in Vilnius in September, I and my colleagues from the European Affairs Committees of Poland and the Baltic States had a very productive and important discussion on migration and energy security. We have come to the conclusion that the evolving realities require a shift in our approach to both migration and energy resources and that these issues must viewed from the angle of security. […] We must remember that the above-mentioned issues pose challenges not only to the stability, sovereignty and national security of individual Member States, but also to the security of the entire European Union. This calls for solidarity and close cooperation among all EU Member States. We need to be pragmatic and creative in strengthening our collective efforts to address emerging threats,’ Mr Lydeka said.

For the members of EU Parliaments participating in the COSAC Plenary Meeting, Mr Lydeka presented the outcomes of the discussions between chairs of the European Affairs Committees of Poland and the Baltic States, which took place in Vilnius on 15–16 September. The outcomes included the following jointly adopted documents: Statement on the External Border Protection of the European Union and Joint Letter regarding the halt of LNG imports from Russia (find more about the meeting here and about its follow-up here).

The COSAC Plenary Meeting adopted the conclusions of the LXXII COSAC as well. The Lithuanian delegation was particularly active in making proposals, and most of them were incorporated into the final text, which was approved by consensus among the Member States. The conclusions of the LXXII COSAC will be presented to the European Commission and the European Parliament as the contribution of national Parliaments to discussions on the EU agenda.

The documents of the Plenary Meeting are available here.

Elzė Kolelė, Adviser, Office of the Seimas Committee on European Affairs, tel. +370 5 209 6498