The Foreign Affairs Committee discussed upholding unity of EU with their Czech colleagues

Today, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) discussed the priorities of the Czech Presidency of the European Union, including supporting Ukraine, strengthening the defence capability of Europe and the need to uphold the unity of Member States, with the delegation of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic.

Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu Marko Mihkelson said that Ukraine had to win the war Russia had started against it and restore its territorial integrity without any concessions. In his opinion, Ukraine needs constant military and economic support of the West to achieve that. “We have to be ready to support Ukraine for months, maybe even for years,” he added.

Mihkelson thinks that it is important at the same time to continue putting pressure on Russia. “We have to continue working to impose new sanctions as well as move towards ending the energy dependence of the European countries on Russia,” he explained.

Mihkelson emphasised that as an important political signal, Ukraine needed the status of a candidate state for membership of the European Union at the first opportunity. He is also convinced that it is necessary to do everything to support investigating Russia’s war crimes in Ukraine. “War criminals must not go unpunished but have to bear full responsibility for the crimes they have committed,” he said.

Strengthening of the defence capability of Europe was also discussed at the meeting. In Mihkelson’s opinion, it is necessary to ensure that Finland’s and Sweden’s accession to NATO would be rapid and smooth. He also thinks that the defence and deterrence posture of the alliance should be strengthened and its forward presence on the NATO eastern flank should be enhanced.

Mihkelson pointed out that in further supporting of Ukraine, continuing pressure on Russia and strengthening the defence capability of Europe, it is important that the Member States showed unity. At the meeting with his Czech colleagues, he expressed happiness that the Czech Republic considered keeping and strengthening the unity of states important also during its Presidency of the EU, which will begin on 1 July.

Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Czech Parliament Marek Ženíšek, Vice-Chair of the Committee Jaroslava Pokorná-Jermanová and members of the Committee Marek Benda and Vladimír Balaš participated in the meeting with the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu.

Source: Parliament of Estonia