President of Latvia addresses MEPs at a formal sitting .In his address, Mr Levits focused on Russia’s war against Ukraine, Russia’s responsibility for crimes committed under international law, the EU’s continued support for Ukraine as well as strengthening democracy in the face of current threats. Extracts from the meeting with Roberta METSOLA, EP President and from the formal sitting.

plenary session

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

formal sitting

EU - Latvia (T)

president's agenda

LEVITS, Egils (LV)

Visit of Egils LEVITS, President of Latvia to the European Parliament: meeting with Roberta METSOLA, EP President and extracts from the Formal sitting

External shots. Visit of Egils LEVITS, President of Latvia to the European Parliament: welcoming by Roberta METSOLA, EP President , Strasbourg, France, 14/02/2023, (3 shots)

Internal shots. Family photo with Egils LEVITS, President of Latvia to the European Parliament and  Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Latvian anthem and European anthem, Strasbourg, France, 14/02/2023, (11 shots)

Internal shot. ambiance, corridor, Egils LEVITS, President of Latvia to the European Parliament and  Roberta METSOLA, EP President,  Strasbourg, France, 14/02/2023, (1 shot)

SOUNDBITE (Latvian), Egils LEVITS, President of Latvia, ......

Internal shots. Ambiance shots, Protocol room, meeting with Egils LEVITS, President of Latvia to the European Parliament and Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Strasbourg, France, 04/02/2023,  (2  shots)

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, Since the 24th of February 2020, to the day Putin's regime launched an illegal and brutal attack on sovereign Ukraine, Latvia has led on shaping EU policy and has demonstrated unwavering support for Ukraine scores and solidarity with Ukrainian people

SOUNDBITE (Latvian), Egils LEVITS, President of Latvia, Democracy and the rule of law were under threat not only from within. Today it is also threatened by Russia's aggressive ideology, which is behind sad attack on Ukraine, a sovereign, democratic European country. The authoritarian Russian regime has gone back 200 years in its thinking. It has regressed to the imperialist, colonialist and the racist ideology of the 19th century

SOUNDBITE (Latvian), Egils LEVITS, President of Latvia, We must also acknowledge enormous mistake and naivity of moving purposefully towards dependence of Russian energy resources. And she also it would be also good to reflect on how such a mistake was even possible. Despite our warnings, certainly that Putin "versteher! in think tanks and policymaking circles had at all, as did business interests. But in future, Europe and the West as a whole must not longer make such strategic mistakes 

SOUNDBITE (Latvian), Egils LEVITS, President of Latvia, <i>A</i>t the moment, neither the International Criminal Court nor any other international mechanism can exercise jurisdcition over this crime of aggression. Therefore, it is necessary to create a special tribunal to try Russia&acute;s aggression against Ukraine 

SOUNDBITE (English), Egils LEVITS, President of Latvia, <i>]</i>For us, it is much, much less demanding to be courageous. We have to make the right decision. This is a historical decision that we might have only one chance to make. The Ukrainian people have decided. Now it is our turn. Thank you 