The meeting of Nordic and Baltic MEPs was convened by the Nordic Council and the Baltic Assembly.
“We will all benefit from a more united Nordic-Baltic region, including at the EU level,” said Jorodd Asphjell, a former President of the Nordic Council and the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC).
“Like our Baltic neighbours and the rest of Europe, we are deeply concerned in the Nordic Region about the security policy situation. Strengthening our joint security will remain a top priority for the Nordic Council,” he continued. Asphjell, a Norwegian MP, is a member of the Nordic Council Presidium.
Jorodd Asphjell/ norden.org
The need to work more closely together to protect democratic values was another important theme at the Nordic-Baltic meeting. Concern is growing about authoritarian regimes and the erosion of democratic principles, the rule of law and human rights.
In 2023, the Nordic Council adopted an international strategy that stresses the importance of working with like-minded partners to promote democracy, peace and human rights. The meeting in Brussels was a tangible step in that direction and will help to consolidate contacts with the Baltic Assembly and the EU Parliament.
Asphjell also underlined that closer co-operation between the Nordic countries, the Baltics and the EU is not just about our own security. It is also about supporting those fighting for freedom and democracy: „As politicians, we also have an important role to play in reminding people why support for Ukraine is crucial, what exactly is at stake, and that a sustainable peace agreement is only possible with Ukraine and Europe at the negotiating table”.
