Eesmaa and Kunnas attend Nordic-Baltic security and national defence forum

Today and tomorrow, Chairman of the National Defence Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Enn Eesmaa and Deputy Chairman of the Committee Leo Kunnas participate in the security and national defence forum of the Parliaments of the Baltic States and the Nordic Countries in Finland to discuss strengthening the security of the region.

Eesmaa said that the meeting of the Chairs of the National Defence Committees of nine countries would discuss the dramatic changes in the security situation in Europe brought about by the war launched by Russia in Ukraine. “Russia poses a direct threat, and all our future decisions must be based on this view. We are pleased that the countries of the Baltic Sea region have already increased their defence spending and are paying more and more attention to their defence capabilities,” he added.

Eesmaa also highlighted Denmark’s accession to the Common Security and Defence Policy of the European Union, and Finland’s and Sweden’s decision to apply for NATO membership. “We also expect a major contribution to the strengthening of the security of our region from the NATO Summit, which will be held at the end of this month in Madrid,” he said.

The Chairs of the national defence committees of the Parliaments of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark as well as Germany and Poland participate in the forum held in Turku, Finland. The forum will be opened by Chairman of the Defence Committee of the Eduskunta (Parliament) of Finland Petteri Orpo. Chief of Defence of the Republic of Finland, General Timo Kivinen and the representatives of military intelligence, the Ministry of Defence and the National Emergency Supply Agency will speak at the forum. The Chairs of the defence committees will also visit Pansio naval base.

The National Defence Committee of the Riigikogu has held annual working meetings with the National Defence Committees of the Baltic Parliaments since 1998. From 2011, the representatives of the national defence committees of the Parliaments of the Nordic Countries and Poland have also been taking part in these meetings.

Source: Parliament of Estonia