Latvian Parliament Supports Commencement of EU Accession Negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova
The Latvian Parliament, known as the Saeima, unanimously endorsed a statement on Thursday expressing support for the start of negotiations on the accession of Ukraine and Moldova to the European Union. The announcement was made by the press service of the Latvian Parliament.
"Latvia bears a special responsibility to remind our partners in the European Union of the importance of bolstering support for societies that defend freedom, democracy, the rule of law, and human rights. Despite Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing hybrid war in Moldova, these two countries are making tremendous efforts to draw closer to the European Union," the statement read.
The document calls on other EU member states to support the recommendations of the European Commission and initiate accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova by the end of the year. Members of the Parliament also urge the European Commission and the Council of the European Union to promptly prepare and approve the frameworks for negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova.
"The statement from the Saeima is of significant importance, emphasizing this signal to other member states," noted Edmunds Chepuritis, the Chair of the Committee on European Affairs of the Saeima.
The resolution also includes a call for both candidate countries to continue implementing necessary reforms aligning with the values of the European Union, fostering closer integration into the EU, and contributing to greater stability, security, and prosperity in the region. The Saeima's statement confirms Latvia's readiness to provide the necessary support to Ukraine and Moldova on their path to full-fledged membership in the European Union.
Notably, Romania also expressed strong support for initiating accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova within this year. This statement was made by the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the start of the Euromaidan and the events of the Revolution of Dignity.
The announcement highlights that ten years ago, Ukrainians demonstrated that Ukraine belongs to the European Union family, and the Euromaidan serves as a symbol of Ukraine's European destiny, defended daily against aggression from Russia.
As a reminder, on November 8, the European Commission recommended initiating negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova regarding accession to the European Union. Additionally, it approved granting candidate status to Georgia, conditional on Tbilisi fulfilling a series of steps, including support for European sanctions policies.