MEPs met in Riga to discuss the future of European security from Eastern European flank

During their visit to Latvia, eleven MEPs met to discuss European security issues within the EPP Group’s Foreign Affairs Working Group, as well as at the conference “The Future of European Security: A Perspective from the Eastern Flank” to discuss the EU's security challenges and the contribution of Eastern European and Baltic countries to common European security.

The visit took place on May 8, 2026, and was organized by the EPP Group’s Foreign Policy Working Group, of which Sandra Kalniete MEP is the deputy chair.

In her opening remarks, Sandra Kalniete MEP (Latvia) emphasized that the recent security incident - the intrusion of unmanned aerial vehicles into Latvian airspace - is not an isolated case, but rather a direct consequence of Russian aggression with real implications for the security of the European Union and NATO. “Such incidents will continue, in part because Russia and Belarus are using hybrid provocations to test our reactions and defence systems, as well as attempting to spread fear among the public. That is precisely why I am particularly pleased that this visit was attended not only by colleagues from countries closest to us, such as Lithuania and Poland, but also from Spain, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Denmark, and other countries.”

In his opening remarks at the conference, Andrzej Halicki MEP (Poland), Deputy Chair of the EPP Group and Chair of the Foreign Affairs Working Group, noted that “the EPP Group has always been a leading force in strengthening European defence and its industrial base. But we must take further action to strengthen the defence capabilities and military mobility of the eastern flank. Our discussions here in Riga are the best proof that the EPP Group cares about European security.”

During the conference’s first panel, European Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis (Latvia) emphasized that “European security begins with stable regions along the eastern border,” while discussing the competitiveness of Eastern and Baltic countries with the EPP Group’s lead MEP on security and defence Nicolás Pascual de la Parte (Spain), Mārtiņš Kazāks, President of the Bank of Latvia, Elīna Egle, Chair of the Board of the Latvian Security and Defence Industry Federation and Laura Skrodele, Director of the “Entrepreneurs for Peace” Foundation.

The conference panel on security in Eastern European countries featured discussions by Major General Kaspars Pudāns, Commander of the Latvian National Armed Forces, Commander of the State Border Guard, General Guntis Pujāts, Minister of Foreign Affairs Baiba Braže, and Ainars Latkovskis, Chair of the Saeima National Security Committee.

Prime Minister of Latvia Evika Siliņa closed the conference, by stressing that Russia’s war against Ukraine is not only Ukraine’s problem, it is the challenge of the whole Europe. "The conflict in the Gulf also shows that crises are connected. Iran and North Korea are helping Russia, they provide military and technological support. China continues to support Russia’s war economy. Russia is the main threat to Europe therefore we must strengthen the eastern flank of the EU and NATO."

Also participating in the visit were Christoph Gomart MEP (France), Vice-Chair of the Committee on Security and Defense,  Rasa Juknevičienė MEP (Lithuania), Alice Teodorescu Måwe MEP (Sweden), Sven Simon MEP (Germany), Krzysztof Brejza MEP (Poland), Ingeborg ter Laak MEP (Netherlands), Isabel Wiseler-Lima MEP (Luxembourg) and Inese Vaidere MEP (Latvia).

Inese Vaidere MEP emphasized that the Baltic states are most fully aware of the threats posed by Russia. “The EPP is the leading political force in Europe in strengthening security and defence, consistently advocating for stronger protection of the EU’s external borders, greater investment in defence and unwavering support for Ukraine.”

Members of the European Parliament also met with Jānis Sārts, Director of NATO’s Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence, visited the unmanned aerial vehicle manufacturer “Origin Robotics” and toured the exhibition at the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia.