According to the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Marko Mihkelson, Baltic states agree on the permanent presence of NATO allies in the current security situation.

The Foreign Affairs Committees of the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian parliaments met in Riga on 13 June; one topic for discussion was the preparedness to accommodate allied bases. “This requires investments, increased accommodation capability and budgeting of relevant expenses in the state budget,” Mihkelson said after the meeting.

According to Mihkelson, NATO must also seriously analyse the effect of hybrid warfare on the possible application of Article 5, or collective defence. “We also came to the conclusion at the meeting that France should annul the sale of Mistral assault ships to Russia and that the European Union should give an accession perspective to Ukraine and other European countries as soon as possible,” Mihkelson said.

The parties agreed that the Eastern Partnership must be significantly updated and that every country must be dealt with individually and according to their needs. “Countries must be given clearer perspectives, and it would be good to assure the Ukrainians that after reforms they will be welcome to join the European Union if they wish,” said Mihkelson.

Estonia was represented at the meeting of Baltic Foreign Affairs Committees in Riga by the Chairman of the Committee Marko Mihkelson and Members of the Committee Maimu Berg and Margus Hanson.

See photos of the meeting, courtesy of the Latvian Saeima.

Feedback