On 24 November 2023 in Tallinn, Estonia, more than 100 parliamentarians, experts and government representatives of the Baltic States, as well as the countries from the Baltic Sea, Nordic, Benelux and GUAM regions, met for the annual 42nd Session of the Baltic Assembly and the 29th Baltic Council. Current affairs and cooperation in the economy and civil defence were discussed during the events.
During the session in the parliament of Estonia, experts from the Baltic States were informed about the economic impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and how the Baltic States are joining forces towards a region more resilient to financial and energy market pressures. The need for an effective and coherent regional civil defence through close consultations and coordination was also assessed. Alongside the Session, the 29th Baltic Council, a cooperation platform for parliaments and governments, was held, during which the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the three Baltic States reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine.
Speech by the President of the BSPC
During the Session, President of the Baltic Assembly Timo Suslov highlighted that the Baltic Assembly can only imagine their work with international experience. “We highly value our cooperation with international partners because by acting together and pooling our forces, we become stronger,” he emphasised.
Afterwards, the representatives of the international partner organisations addressed the Session participants. BSPC President Henrik Møller conveyed the warmest greetings from the BSPC to the Baltic Assembly and informed that the close cooperation between the two organisations has been based on deep mutual trust, reliability, and friendship for many years. Many colleagues of the Baltic Assembly are also very involved in the BSPC’s work.
Mr Møller assured the Chair of the Cooperation Council of the Baltic Council of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia Margus Tsahkna, who had expressed concern about being left alone that the Baltic countries are not alone – not now and not in the future. “The same goes for Ukraine – you will never be alone in the war against Russian aggression. Not now and not in the future,” he stated.
President Møller also pointed out that strengthening the parliamentary dimension of international cooperation is of fundamental importance, particularly in these times of war. The Baltic Assembly and the BSPC have common goals, particularly about the war of aggression by the Russian Federation against the sovereignty, the independence, and the people of Ukraine. That full-scale brutal military attack rattled the foundations of continental stability and beyond. Russia has trampled on the principles that had been the cornerstone of peace and stability for many decades. Therefore, the Russian attack on Ukraine, contrary to international law, was again one of the core topics of the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference in August.
Regarding the unanimously adopted resolution, the president explained that the first part of the resolution deals exclusively with the war in Ukraine. It is once again an expression of the BSPC’s full support for Ukraine and powerfully underlines the need to fully restore Ukraine’s territorial integrity, which explicitly includes the Crimean peninsula.
Lastly, Mr Møller highlighted that during the Danish BSPC Presidency, the focus will be on safety in the Baltic Sea region through the lenses of energy supply security, defence, and climate change. Energy supply security is a fundamental component of regional stability. “It is essential that we meet with each other and work with each other for these common goals. Let us continue to work together with unwavering commitment and cooperation on a future for the Baltic Sea region that is safe, green, and filled with opportunities for our youth,” he encouraged.
Future work of the Baltic Assembly
At the end of the Session, the participants were introduced to the programme for Lithuania’s Presidency of the Baltic Assembly for 2024. The motto of the Lithuanian Presidency will be “Growing strong and resilient together”. The focus will be on three priorities: 1) the Baltic region confident in its security, development, and resilience; 2) connected, innovative and sustainable Baltic States; and 3) unity, support, and consistency in facing regional challenges.
Vice President of the Baltic Assembly Andrius Kupčinskas affirmed that connectivity, innovations and sustainability are of great importance for regional development. Therefore, that will also be at the core of the work of the Baltic Assembly in 2024; regional connectivity, smart growth and sustainable development have always been high on the agenda of the Baltic Assembly, and in 2024, the parliamentarians will continue to work towards improving existing and finding new solutions to common challenges.
After adopting the Resolution and the Final Document of the 42nd Session, the President of the Baltic Assembly, Timo Suslov, transferred the presidency statuette to Vice President Andrius Kupčinskas, symbolising that Lithuania will take over the presidency in the Baltic Assembly on 1 January 2024.
Intensifying Cooperation
In the margins of the session and afterwards, the members of the BSPC delegation deepened the cooperation and joint issues with the Baltic Assembly, experts and the representatives of the International parliamentary organisations.
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