Latvia calls for unity against ‘aggression of Russia’

Latvia’s presidency of the EU will seek greater support for the Ukraine against “the aggression of Russia”, Latvian prime minister Laimdota Straujuma has told the European Parliament.

Speaking in a debate on the priorities of the Latvian presidency Ms Straujuma said the EU “cannot side with the aggressor” in territorial disputes.

She said cementing EU unity on Russia would send a “clear signal to the neighbouring countries” in eastern Europe that the European Union was their friend. “Our strength is in our unity” she told Parliament.

Among the other priorities of the six-month presidency which began this month were progress on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership talks, as well as progress on security issues such as a European-wide record of airline passengers.

She said Europe was the world’s largest economy with strong technology positions and progress would be made on a digital strategy for Europe. Ms Straujuma also said the EU needed to develop a stronger European energy policy.

EU Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker welcomed the incoming Latvian presidency saying it could not be imagined just 30 years ago that Latvia would be steering the destiny of the European Union.

He said there would be a common work programme between the Commission and the presidency because the priorities of both were “identical”.