On 3-4 March 2022, the Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, took part in an informal meeting of the European Union’s General Affairs Council in Arles, France. Discussions focused on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, support provided by the EU Member States until now, and further steps, as well as the EU-Ukraine relations, including granting Ukraine an EU candidate country status.
The Parliamentary Secretary underlined that it was clear at this point that Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine was an attempt at stopping democratic processes in Europe. The future of all of us depends on the EU being united in its action at this critical stage; therefore, the EU should grant Ukraine candidate status, she asserted.
Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica informed those present that on 3 March, the Saeima (Latvian Parliament) unanimously passed a decision to support granting Ukraine EU candidate country status. The Saeima has also adopted a law in support of Ukrainian civilians, and legislative amendments enabling Latvian citizens to serve in the Ukrainian armed forces. The government has allocated additional 2.4 million euros for the purchase of weapons and military equipment and for the provision of humanitarian aid.
We must reaffirm that Ukraine belongs to Europe, the values of which it is currently fighting for so heroically, and every possible means must be pursued to help Ukraine, the Parliamentary Secretary said, adding that Ukraine needed our help now more than ever.
Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica told the Council that Latvia was providing support for Ukraine in all possible ways: excellent cooperation is taking place between the public sector and civil society organisations in coordinating assistance to Ukrainians, Ukrainian refugees are being received, people are standing united, everybody is trying to help.
The Parliamentary Secretary pointed out that the two aggressor states – Russia and Ukraine – must be brought under an increasingly stronger diplomatic, political and economic pressure, as well as applying all international legal mechanisms to hold Russia accountable for the war crimes perpetrated. It is no less important to launch a well-considered and strategically devised fight against disinformation, which is spreading especially rapidly under the present circumstances.
Background information
The General Affairs Council meets on monthly basis, while the General Affairs Council’s informal meetings are convened once in six months. In the first half of 2022, those meetings are chaired by the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union.