“The tragic events in Paris at the Charlie Hebdo office, as well as the renewed violence in the East Ukraine and the attacks on civilians in Mariupol, are stark reminders of the manifold challenges Europe is facing. They underscore both the uncertainty of events and the fact that we must be ready for any challenges that may occur,” said Lolita Čigāne, Chairperson of the European Affairs Committee of the Saeima, in her address to the EU parliamentarians who deal with EU affairs and who gathered in the Saeima on Monday, 2 February.

The EU parliamentarians, members of the European Parliament, as well as other officials and experts, arrived in Latvia to take part in the Meeting of the Chairpersons of the Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs of Parliaments of the European Union (COSAC).

“Today, the EU parliamentarians who deal with EU affairs agreed that Europe has to speak in one voice with regard to Ukraine. I am glad that we – participants of the Meeting of the Chairpersons of COSAC – could show an example by adopting a Statement on the current situation in Ukraine,” emphasised Lolita Čigāne.

Concurrently, the Chairperson highlighted that several EU parliamentarians noted that Ukrainian people must not be punished for supporting their state’s chosen path of European integration, and it is the duty of the EU to support them. 

Today participants of the Meeting of the Chairpersons of COSAC addressed issues such as the Eastern Partnership and challenges ahead, priorities of the Latvian Presidency and prospects for the EU after the election of the new European Commission.

COSAC is organised once every six months by the country that holds the presidency of the Council of the European Union. The Meeting of the Chairpersons of COSAC is attended by the chairpersons of committees for European affairs of the parliaments of all EU member states, as well as by members of the European Parliament. Other officials and experts are also invited to attend.

Saeima Press Service