Dear Prime Minister, dear Andris. First of all, thank you very much here today in Riga and the very fruitful conversations that we had. Listening to every leader in their home country, every year, and hearing your views directly is very important for me as I prepare our work in the upcoming European Council meetings. Our Union is a union of nations, and unity among the 27 member states can only be built on the basis of all national positions.
This rentrée marks a decisive moment for our Union — we will be working towards one of the most consequential decisions of recent years: our next long-term European budget for the period 2028 – 2034. We need to reach an agreement by the end of this year. And not just on any budget — but one with the resources to deliver on what our citizens expect from us.
We need a European budget that matches our ambitions and provides the means to deliver on our common priorities — including in key areas such as defence and security, competitiveness, innovation, and strategic resilience. At the same time, it must continue to support our agricultural and cohesion policies, both essential to the prosperity, resilience, and the balanced development of every European region.
To do all this, the structure of the next budget will need to look very different to previous ones. And, like national budgets, the European Union budget must deliver on its priorities within the limits of finite resources. Most of it is financed through member states’ national contributions. And we need to keep those contributions within reasonable limits. That is why a balanced and ambitious package of so-called new own resources, the new revenue streams for the European Union, will be an essential part of an overall agreement.
One thing is certain: we must reach an agreement before the end of this year so that European Union funding for our farmers, businesses, students, researchers and innovators is not interrupted in 2028. That is why we need to approach the final stages of this negotiation with an open mind and a spirit of collective responsibility. I am confident we can reach an agreement before the end of the year. And in that context, I want to thank Andris for Latvia’s constructive approach to this debate.
Dear Prime Minister, standing at the European Union’s Eastern flank means standing at the forefront of the security challenges affecting our continent. Russian hybrid threats and recent incidents involving drones and concerns related to airspace security have demonstrated the importance of strengthening our collective preparedness, protecting our borders, and ensuring that Europe has the necessary capabilities to respond effectively.
At the same time, Europe’s borders will only be secure if all our borders are secure, in a 360-degree approach. We need to continue working towards decisively ramping up Europe’s defence readiness by 2030.
Andris, your geography also exposes you to the instrumentalisation of migration. This is totally unacceptable. It is unacceptable wherever it takes place on the European Union’s external borders – whether in Ceuta, or in the Baltic region. This is a common European challenge that requires a joint European response in support of affected member states.
I would also like to thank you for Latvia’s strong and principled support for Ukraine. Your commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty, resilience, and European aspirations has been unwavering. Supporting the Western Balkans, Moldova and Ukraine, on their paths towards membership of the European Union, is an investment in Europe’s security and prosperity. We need to advance on all fronts, working harder and faster with all candidates through the merit-based process.
Let me conclude by remembering that Europe’s strength comes from its unity. Latvia’s commitment, and perspective are essential in shaping our common response. We count on your leadership, dear Andris, and on Latvia’s continued contribution to building a stronger, safer, and more united European Union. And I look forward to continuing this work with you at our next European Council meetings.
Thank you.