The Baltic Assembly discussed security cooperation and use of AI

NordenBladet —

President of the Riigikogu Lauri Hussar, who spoke at the opening of the BA Session, said that when we think of the recent history of the Baltic States, we often understand each other almost without the need for words. “The cooperation of the Baltic States in the field of security and defence is one of the brightest examples of Baltic unity, and since the moment Russia started its full-scale aggression in Ukraine, the Baltic States have cooperated in security sector more closely than ever before,” the President of the Riigikogu pointed out.

“There is no doubt that in this war, which Russia has started, much more is at stake than the future of Ukraine. For Estonia, as well as for other border states, what is at stake is nothing less and nothing more than existential security interests,” he said, and underlined that Ukraine’s victory on Ukraine’s terms, and Russia’s loss is in the interests of the freedom of all of us, as Ukraine is fighting not only for its own freedom, but for the future of the whole Europe and for democratic values. According to Hussar, the support of the Baltic States to Ukraine has been tangible, visible and audible, and of a very significant size on a global scale, and it will continue as long as needed.

Hussar also highlighted the need to complete the construction of Rail Baltic. “For us, this is an infrastructure project of strategic importance that helps integrate the Baltic States into the European rail network. We also must not forget that Rail Baltic has a huge potential to increase military mobility in the Baltic region. With this in mind, it is important for the implementation of the project that sustainable solutions to the problems of financing the project are found both at the level of the Baltic States and the EU,” he said.

Head of the Estonian delegation to the BA Timo Suslov said that in addition to the defence sector, the Baltic parliamentary cooperation would also continue in the developing of artificial intelligence, the prevention of major accidents, in economy, education, medicine, electricity and gas market, in the protection of environment and biodiversity, as well as in other areas. “We not only have to complete the construction of Rail Baltic, but we also have cooperate to make full use of the potential of the completed railway,” he noted.

Also, the cooperation assembly of the governments and the parliaments of the Baltic States the Baltic Council held its 30th meeting. The Council focused on regional security and foreign policy. President of the Baltic Assembly Andrius Kupčinskas and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Gabrielius Landsbergis, Minister of Justice of Latvia Inese Lībiņa-Egnere and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia Margus Tsahkna participated in the Baltic Council.

At the end of the BA Session, the Resolution was adopted, the Final Document was signed, and the BA budget for the next year was adopted. Lithuania transferred the presidency of the Baltic Assembly to Latvia. New President of the BA Jānis Vucāns addressed the Assembly and outlined the priorities of Latvia’s presidency, which are a secure, prosperous and innovative Baltic region, an interconnected energy, transport and digital policy, and a protected, biodiverse and sustainable Baltic Sea.

The Baltic Assembly (Interparliamentary Assembly of the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Latvia and the Republic of Lithuania) is a consultative cooperation organisation of the parliaments of the three Baltic States that discusses issues of mutual interest. The Head of the Estonian delegation to the BA is Timo Suslov, the Deputy Head is Enn Eesmaa, and members of the delegation are Arvo Aller, Karmen Joller, Meelis Kiili, Lauri Laats, Priit Lomp, Tiit Maran, Helir-Valdor Seeder, Riina Solman, Margit Sutrop and Peeter Tali.

Full text of the Resolution (PDF, 32 kB).

Full text of the Final Document (PDF, 46 kB).

Photos of the event (Ilona Šilenkova, Seimas of Lithuania)

Riigikogu Press Service
Maris Meiessaar
+372 631 6353, +372 5558 3993
maris.meiessaar@riigikogu.ee
Questions press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: The Baltic Assembly discussed security cooperation and use of AI

Source: Parliament of Estonia