“The development of the EU defence industry and a rapid increase in capabilities is the most important “homework” for all of us, and means taking responsibility for our own security. This will also help the EU to provide Ukraine with strong political support and rapid military assistance. It is also important to accelerate the process of Ukraine’s accession to the EU. In parallel, the sanctions pressure on Russia must be increased, as well as strengthening the EU’s energy independence by completely rejecting Russian energy resources,” the Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Artjoms Uršuļskis, underlined at the meeting of the General Affairs Council in Brussels on 18 March.
In a discussion on the draft conclusions of the European Council on 20–21 March, Artjoms Uršuļskis also called for stepping up efforts to protect critical energy infrastructure at sea and on land. As concerns the EU’s next Multiannual Financial Framework (2028–2034), a balance needs to found between new and traditional priorities in order to promote the EU’s competitiveness as much as possible.
In an exchange of views on the EU’s relations with the United Kingdom, the Parliamentary Secretary emphasized that Latvia supports the formalisation of relations – signing of agreements in the areas of foreign affairs, security and defence policy. This is important in the current geopolitical situation. As a priority, Latvia would support a non-binding partnership with the United Kingdom in the security and defence sector.
In an informal discussion with the leader of the Belarusian democratic forces, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the Parliamentary Secretary reaffirmed Latvia’s unwavering support for the Belarusian democratic forces and called for increased pressure against the Lukashenko regime and its repression of civil society, the democratic opposition, and media representatives.
The General Affairs Council also achieved agreement on the joint legislative priorities of EU institutions for 2025, and policy objectives for the next five years. Recommendations were then approved on the economic policy of the euro area for 2025. This took place as part of the annual European Semester, a framework for coordinating economies, budgets, and the employment and social policies of the Member States since 2011.
