On Thursday, March 23, and Friday, March 24, Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš participated in the meeting of the heads of state and government of the European Union (EU), the European Council, in Brussels, Belgium, where it was decided on further support for Ukraine, further strengthening of sanctions against Russia, the economic situation in the EU and foreign trade issues.
The European Council decided to ensure the supply of one million artillery shells to Ukraine over the next twelve months. Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš emphasized that the adopted EU decision is essential, as it provides support to Ukraine and at the same time promotes the capacity building of the EU military industry, including opening opportunities for the development of the Latvian defense industry.
In the discussions of EU leaders, the Prime Minister emphasized the need to continue political, economic and diplomatic pressure on Russia. “We expect further development and adoption of sanctions against Russia. We must effectively implement the already adopted sanctions and prevent their circumvention,” said K. Kariņš.
In addition, the Prime Minister pointed out the importance of the recently issued warrants of the International Criminal Court for the arrest of the Russian president and his representative in matters of children’s rights. It is the first step towards bringing Russia’s top officials to justice. “We strongly advocate to this establishment of an international tribunal within the framework of the UN process. It is the most appropriate solution for the investigation and trial of the crime of aggression against Ukraine,” said K. Kariņš.
Although Ukraine’s progress towards the EU was not the central topic of the European Council, the Prime Minister expressed strong support for Ukraine’s integration into the EU. “As Ukraine fulfills the recommendations of the European Commission, the EU must start accession negotiations with Ukraine without delay,” emphasized K. Kariņš.
A significant part of the discussions at the European Council was devoted to how to strengthen the competitiveness of the EU and its member states. The Prime Minister paid special attention to the necessary investments in research and production development with high added value. Also, K. Kariņš pointed out that the EU must continue to implement an open and ambitious trade policy – mutually beneficial trade is essential to ensure access to critical raw materials and EU product markets.
K. Kariņš also participated in the meeting of the leaders of the eurozone, the Eurosummit, where, with the participation of the head of the European Central Bank, Kristina Lagarda, a discussion was held on the economic and financial current affairs of the EU. In the discussion, the Prime Minister emphasized that the work on the creation of the Banking Union and the Capital Market Union, which is an important tool for improving the private investment environment in the European Union, must be completed.
