On Tuesday, 3 October, at the annual Warsaw Security Forum in Poland, Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima, addressed the participants of the panel discussion "Europe's Energy Transition: Delivering Secure, Sustainable and Affordable Energy" and took part in several roundtable discussions.

"Given our historical experience, people in Latvia understand the meaning of dependence on Russia, including in the energy sector. Our goal is therefore to reach energy independence. The dramatic increase in energy prices we have seen since last year is a consequence of Russia's aggression against Ukraine," said Kalniņa‑Lukaševica.  The transition to green energy is a major security issue, stressed the Deputy Speaker of the Saeima.

"When dealing with energy issues, we must consider climate goals, security concerns, and costs," said Kalniņa‑Lukaševica, pointing out that even though the green transition requires substantial investment, in the long term, the advantages of fully embracing renewable resources will be evident in terms of both climate sustainability and financial returns.

Kalniņa‑Lukaševica highlighted Latvia’s active work towards becoming an electricity exporter. The Deputy Speaker of the Saeima noted that the challenge of storing wind and solar energy remains to be solved. Latvian scientists are exploring ways to effectively use green hydrogen technologies for this purpose.

The Deputy Speaker of the Saeima discussed infrastructure, connectivity, and energy efficiency as crucial challenges for the coming years. In the discussions, wind and solar energy were underscored as essential components in achieving Europe's goal of energy independence.

The panel discussion brought together policymakers and industry experts from Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Germany.

Held annually since 2014, the Warsaw Security Forum is dedicated to enhancing awareness of European and NATO security policies by fostering dialogue between policymakers and academics.

Saeima Press Service