While discussing security and defence, Egils Levits and Charles Michel agreed that Europe’s security plans must be aligned with NATO plans because transatlantic bond and NATO has crucial role in Europe’s security architecture. President of Latvia and President of European Council also underlined that sanctions imposed against Russia can only be lifted upon full implementation of Minsk agreements, which does not contradict with continued practical dialogue between the EU and Russia.
As regards to the EU’s multi-annual budget, President Levits stressed the need to make budget more ambitious to ensure that all priorities are sufficiently funded. At the same time, budget should provide healthy balance between all policies. Multi-annual budget process should also reflect current changes and needs of society. Egils Levits pointed out that Latvia currently prioritises climate policy projects, facilitation of digital transformation, innovations and science.
President of Latvia and President of the European Council also discussed climate policy. President Levits emphasised that the EU should lead the world towards climate neutrality. To champion the process, EU should set more ambitious climate change mitigation goals. President Levits also reiterated Latvia’s strong support to EU’s climate initiatives and EU’s plan to become climate neutral by 2050.
During his visit to Brussels, President of Latvia will visit Catholic University of Leuven and take part in workshop/roundtable discussion ‘Democracy in the digital age – risks and challenges’ together with postgraduate students of Faculty of Law, Faculty of Social Sciences and Institute of Philosophy, as well as attend the 101st Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic of Latvia reception at the Permanent Representation of the Republic of Latvia to the European Union and opening of exhibition by artists Ilze and Kristīne Luīze Avotiņa.
