Analytics, Baltic States – CIS, Direct Speech, EU – Baltic States, Latvia, Legislation

According to Kalniete, problems which must be tackled in the area of security is something that the EU defined quite a time ago.

''EU members on a whole spend only about 50% of what the United States spends on security and defense. If we compared to effectiveness of this spending, then we are only at around 10% of the United States' budget level,'' she said, adding that each EU member has its own individual procurements and standard systems. ''The first thing EU member states can do is attempt to synchronize their capabilities, including military industry standards. The circle of uncertainty surrounding the EU at the moment calls for the strengthening of defensive capabilities, so that we are capable of safeguarding EU citizens, as well as help stabilize our neighbors, as many of the threats facing Europe at the moment come from countries currently located in active conflict zone,'' she said.

Kalniete also emphasized that it is very important to establish a common EU refugee database. ''Such a database has not existed up until now. A refugee who might have been denied refugee status in one country could have easily gone to another country to request asylum. There is basically no exchange of information between countries, which is unacceptable. We not only need a database of finger prints, but also exchange information on person who are departing and arriving to the EU. I am speaking about the passenger data registry,'' she said.

''I think that it is very wrong that even after the Paris attacks the European Parliament has not yet passed regulations on the establishment of a common database of airline passengers,'' she added.

''Furthermore, it is also important to create a common EU intelligence system. This must be divided into two levels. The first would be what is happening within the EU, as those who committed the recent terrorist attacks were born and raised in the EU. The second is to find out about terrorist organizations outside the EU. National intelligence institutions are already exchanging information, but this is mostly on a voluntary basis. If one such European level institution is set-up, this process would become must more effective,'' Kalniete emphasized.

''There are also matters which will probably take more political will, like, for example, the establishment of a common EU border and coast guard service. This is very important for Latvia. In the current situation in which the Balkan migration route has basically been shut down, we are seeing migrants attempting to enter Europe via other routes, like, for example, through Italy. The Baltics can not feel safe in this situation as well, as these refugees might begin to attempt to enter the EU through the Baltics. If we look at what is happening in Finland, Norway and Sweden, we see that uncontrolled flows of refugees are coming from highly militarily controlled regions of Russia, which raises the question whether Russian services are not involved in an attempt to destabilize the situation in the EU. Agreements on the creation of a common EU border service are taking place too slowly,'' she said.