“There is a need for all European countries to rapidly strengthen their defence capabilities. Security and defence are the backbone of democracy, as they ensure stability, protect fundamental freedoms, and foster the well-being of our people,” highlighted Jānis Vucāns, President of the Baltic Assembly and Head of its Latvian delegation, addressing the audience at the European Conference of Presidents of Parliament, which also included the heads of interparliamentary organisations, on 20 March in Strasbourg, France.
Safeguarding democracy and ensuring security across Europe cannot be the responsibility of a single country or organisation. It requires collective effort, said MP Vucāns. “To safeguard our freedom, we need a Ukrainian victory, long‑term deterrence of the aggressor Russia, and a stronger alliance of European countries,” said the President of the Baltic Assembly.
“We must help the democratic Ukraine in its fight, as it is also fighting for the democratic values that we share,” stated Jānis Vucāns, highlighting that the Baltic States are among the strongest military supporters of Ukraine, continuing to contribute a significant portion of their gross domestic product to aid the country. The President of the Baltic Assembly called on Western allies to follow suit.
“The Baltic States unanimously agree that there is a need to bring just, comprehensive, and lasting peace for Ukraine that is rooted in the principles of international law,” underlined the President of the Baltic Assembly, pointing out that Ukraine must be a sovereign, independent state that maintains its territorial integrity and the freedom to choose which alliances it wants to join. “Lasting security and the end of Russian imperialist aggression, driven by its colonial ambitions, can only be achieved by a Ukrainian victory,” said Vucāns.
The President of the Baltic Assembly also noted that Russia must pay a steeper price for its aggression, for example, by hindering Russia’s ability to profit from energy exports, as well as by reallocating frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine’s military needs. Vucāns emphasised that it is the duty and responsibility of all of us to completely sever our business and diplomatic ties with Russia and Belarus and tighten the existing sanctions even further. “A weak Russia is the strongest security guarantee for its neighbouring countries, especially those outside NATO and EU,” expressed the President of the Baltic Assembly.
In addition, Vucāns stressed that we have to strengthen relations with like-minded countries that are interested in safeguarding democracy, both at home and in Europe as a whole. The President of the Baltic Assembly called for greater focus on ensuring strong and resilient institutions and societies in our own countries. “There is a need to not only invest in the media literacy of our societies, to combat the spread of fake news and disinformation, but also to protect our digital infrastructure from hybrid threats and cyber attacks that target democratic institutions and public confidence,” urged Vucāns.
The European Conference of Presidents of Parliament is organised since 1975 by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the first conference, and the event was attended by over 60 speakers or deputy speakers and around 400 delegates.
Saeima Press Service
