The 42nd Session of the Baltic Assembly in Tallinn saw Estonia pass the presidency to Lithuania, emphasising the need for further cooperation in defence, crisis management, civil defence, media and information space, energy, transport infrastructure, and biodiversity protection. President Timo Suslov thanked Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania for their excellent cooperation, stating that they have become a force to be reckoned with and will continue to work to make the Baltic States secure, connected, and innovative.

The Baltic Council, the cooperation assembly of governments and parliaments of the Baltic States, also held its sitting on Friday. Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna emphasised the importance of cooperation in light of the complicated international security situation and reaffirmed the unwavering unity of the Baltic States in the international arena and in supporting Ukraine. He emphasised the need to concentrate on raising the cost of aggression and developing new sanctions packages with the European Union.

Tsahkna also highlighted the role of improved connectivity in ensuring the security of the Baltic States, including the need to complete Rail Baltic by 2030. He also discussed disconnecting energy links with Russia and transitioning to renewable energy as key steps in Baltic energy policy.

The Baltic Assembly was established in 1991 as the 3 countries were regaining their independence from the Soviet Union. It’s main tasks were to strengthen regional cooperation, foster democracy, and enhance economic ties.

Initially, the Baltic Assembly focused on consolidating the newly gained sovereignty of its member states. As the Baltic States transitioned to market economies and sought integration into Western institutions, the assembly played a crucial role in harmonizing legislation and policies and became a platform for sharing experiences and jointly addressing challenges faced by the Baltic nations in their quest for Euro-Atlantic integration.

Over the years, the Baltic Assembly evolved into a parliamentary forum, providing a platform for legislators from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to discuss common concerns. It is also complemented by the Baltic Council of Ministers, a governmental cooperation body that complements the assembly’s parliamentary dimension.