“We are launching negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova on joining the European Union. The European Union has been able to prove that it is capable of making decisions and achieving a result, and Putin has lost. I think that's the most important thing,” Siliņa said in an interview with Latvian Television.
The European Council has decided to open accession negotiations with Ukraine & Moldova. #EUCO granted candidate status to Georgia. And the EU will open negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina once the necessary degree of compliance with the membership criteria is reached and…
— Charles Michel (@CharlesMichel) December 14, 2023
Asked about Hungary's participation in the decision, Siliņa said the Hungarian prime minister showed he could not find the strength to join the decision of 26 EU countries within himself. “But the good news is that 26 Member States are completely united in the fact that Ukraine needs to be supported,” Siliņa said.
'It is a historic moment for the European Union. And that's something we have to celebrate properly, it should be noted that we are stronger than we sometimes think of ourselves,” Siliņa said.
She added that along with the moral and political support for Ukraine, financial support is needed.
“Negotiations continue on the multi-annual budget review, for €50 billion for Ukraine, and negotiations are not easy, they are very detailed. It's not going easy in budget discussions right now because the challenges are high and we all know what the consequences of inflation are in each of our Member State. So decisions need to be made in painful discussions,“ said Siliņa.
“But everyone understands that without security at our border, we will not have security in Europe because as Russian troops enter Ukraine, they may as well go somewhere further.”
