Security policy – in the context of new challenges in our neighbourhood

The meeting focused on the Eastern policy and regional security, with particular emphasis on the situation in Ukraine and Belarus. Over the past few months, Alexander Lukashenko's regime has been intensifying hybrid warfare activities against the European Union by organising illegal migration with the help of Belarusian services. The aim of these activities is to destabilise the political situation and threaten the security of Poland, Poland’s neighbours and the entire European Union. Russia is increasing the pressure put on Ukraine through military engagement around Ukraine's eastern border. 

‘We emphasised how important cooperation within NATO is. NATO cannot give in to threats and blackmail used by Russia,’ said Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. He also added that our response and approach to the situation in Ukraine or on NATO’s eastern flank must be firm. 

The head of the Polish government emphasised that our countries agree that it is now necessary to maintain the unity and solidarity within the North Atlantic Alliance. Aggression is not acceptable. The Alliance is prepared to take strong deterrence and defence measures in order to ensure the security of its members. 

Mateusz Morawiecki thanked the Prime Minister of Latvia for his visit and the discussion. As he pointed out, in recent months, Poland has been cooperating even more closely with the Republic of Latvia due to the need for our joint response to the hybrid attacks on our borders launched by the Belarusian regime. 

Prospects and challenges for EU policies in the context of rising energy prices

Today's discussions also focused on the prospects and challenges for EU policies within the next six months, among other things, in the context of rising energy prices and related EU climate policy. Poland and Latvia consider it necessary to diversify energy sources as limited sources can lead to the distortion of the energy market and risks we are facing. 

‘We will not give in to any blackmail, including the “gas blackmail” used upon the construction of Nord Stream 2,’ said the Prime Minister. He pointed out that energy fuels the global economy but high energy prices have the opposite effect. This is a huge cost for the budget. ‘The costs also include anti-inflation packages and packages against high energy prices,’ continued the Prime Minister.

In the context of energy policy and energy prices, Poland points out that it is necessary to carry out an urgent reform of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS). This system leads to unfavourable changes in energy prices on European markets and growing energy poverty, especially in the region of Central Europe. Recently, ETS prices have tripled compared to the last year and increased tenfold over the last 4 years.

Poland emphasises the need to mobilise all available instruments under various policies in order to improve the resilience of the EU to economic crises and hybrid threats, including cyberattacks and disinformation.

Infrastructure and trade cooperation

The heads of the governments also discussed bilateral and regional issues, including those related to cooperation in the area of infrastructure and electricity and joint actions taken under the Three Seas Initiative. Poland and Latvia have established a successful and long-term economic cooperation and implemented joint infrastructure projects. The construction of transport corridors, i.e. Rail Baltica and Via Baltica, contributes to the development of our part of Europe.

‘Our relations with Latvia are excellent: trade is growing and there are prospects for joint investments. We also have advanced transport routes such as Via Baltica and rail connections, which will further improve trade cooperation between Poland and Latvia,’ said the Prime Minister. ‘Not only do we develop infrastructure and trade but we also encourage business exchange by creating better prospects for the exchange of experiences between entrepreneurs. Our countries also share a similar approach to the single market and the concept of strategic autonomy,’ concluded Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.

In the context of the Three Seas Initiative, Poland and Latvia believe that this year’s Three Seas summit that will be held in Riga in June 2022 will strengthen trade cooperation within our region and, thus, enhance its development and recovery after the pandemic.