“The Baltic States can take pride in the accomplishments they have achieved during the years of independence. Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania are well organised, ecologically clean and innovative North European countries with a great potential for development. Democracy and security are the foundations of our growth,” said Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, in her opening address at the 38th Session of the Baltic Assembly (BA), on Friday, 29 November.
In her address, Speaker Mūrniece underlined three priorities: security, regional connectivity, and cooperation between the Nordic and Baltic countries. She emphasised that the Baltic region is one of the most integrated regions in Europe and that, thanks to the solidarity of the allies and the enhanced military presence in the Baltic States and Poland, we can feel much safer in our land.
A strong and united NATO alliance and close cooperation with the transatlantic allies is of vital importance to us, said Mūrniece, urging Baltic parliamentarians to maintain an active dialogue with the US Congress and to solidify the US military presence in the region. Mūrniece expressed gratitude to the BA members and the Latvian Presidency for the vigorous work in protecting the common Baltic interests.
Likewise, Speaker Mūrniece thanked the BA delegations for their relentless work aimed at developing the region’s connectivity. “The Baltic States must join our efforts and work constructively towards implementing the ‘Rail Baltica’ project within the set deadline. The Baltic States must agree on the ‘Rail Baltica’ infrastructure management model, and adequate EU financing for the implementation of the project must be ensured in the negotiations about the next Multiannual Financial Framework,” said Mūrniece.
Regarding the energy sector, Speaker Mūrniece pointed out the importance of rigorous parliamentary oversight of the synchronisation of the Baltic States' electricity networks with the Continental European Network by 2025.
In addition, the Speaker emphasised the great potential of the Baltic-Nordic cooperation, welcoming the well-established collaboration between the BA and the Nordic Council. “We are developing a mutually beneficial dialogue on such matters as health-care, welfare, and education,” said Mūrniece. She also urged the participants to focus on digital development and set more ambitious targets to mitigate climate change.
The BA Session in Riga was also attended by Viktoras Pranckietis, Speaker of the Lithuanian Seimas; Henn Põlluaas, Speaker of the Estonian Riigikogu; and Tomasz Grodzki, the newly elected Marshal of the Polish Senate.
About the Baltic Assembly:
Latvia assumed the year-long presidency of the Baltic Assembly on 1 January 2019.
The Baltic Assembly is an interparliamentary cooperation organisation of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania established on 8 November 1991. Each national parliament of the Baltic States is represented in the Baltic Assembly by 12 to 16 members of parliament. It is a coordinating and consultative organisation which has a right to express its opinion to the national parliaments and governments of the Baltic States, as well as the Baltic Council of Ministers, in the form of resolutions, decisions, declarations and recommendations; it also has a right to request the above-mentioned bodies to provide information on cross-border issues that are high on the Baltic Assembly’s agenda.
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Saeima Press Service