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With the intensification of global political and economic integration processes, regional co-operation is becoming increasingly more vital. The Baltic Sea Region has become one of the most dynamic regions in Europe, with its vast economic and political potential. Its strategic importance has increased with the expansion of the EU and NATO.
Since the early nineties, Latvia has actively participated in the development and strengthening of regional co-operation, by taking advantage of the opportunities for co-operation offered by various regional institutions and organizations, such as the Council of the Baltic Sea States, the Baltic Development Forum, and others, and by assisting in the implementation of several regional programs, projects and initiatives, examples of which are the EU Northern Dimension, European Neighbourhood Policy, e-PINE, and others. Latvia has also improved bilateral relations with each of the Baltic Sea Region states, and developed trilateral co-operation among the Baltic states, while paying particular attention to relations between the Baltic and Nordic states. In the early nineties, the Baltic states created institutions to co-ordinate their co-operative efforts – the Baltic Assembly and Baltic Council of Ministers – based on the existing models of the Nordic Council and Nordic Council of Ministers.
The Baltic Sea Region is characterised by a high density of multilateral institutions and structures for co-operation. Many of them are currently re-defining their priorities, adapting to the new circumstances resulting from the expansion of the EU and NATO. Discussion continues regarding the optimal regional co-operation in terms of its content and formal structure, as well as its place within the EU and global context. In this situation it is important for Latvia to focus on the priority areas of co-operation for the region, and to plan for a purposeful utilisation of the mechanisms of regional co-operation. This is especially significant now, In 2007 Latvia holds the presidency of the Baltic Assembly and the Baltic Council of Ministers, and is preparing to assume the presidency of the Council of the Baltic Sea States from 1 July 2007. Co-operation among the Baltic Sea Region EU member states may be regarded as an important instrument in the development of common EU policies. An exchange of opinions and harmonisation of positions on current EU and foreign policy issues is facilitated by the creation of informal consultative mechanisms: the Baltic and Nordic states (NB6); Baltic states, Nordic states, Poland and Germany (NB6+2), Baltic states and Germany (3+1), and others. Consultations help define the interests of regional states in current EU issues, and their informal nature ensures an open exchange of views. Latvia is interested in continuing its participation in these consultations, be it at the Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, or expert level.
Cooperation among the Baltic States
Cooperation of Baltic and Nordic States
EU Northern Dimension
INTERREG
Rail Baltica and Via Baltica Projects
Other useful websites
Foreign Affairs Ministry of Estonia: http://www.vm.ee
Foreign Affairs Ministry of Lithuania: http://www.urm.lt
Foreign Affairs Ministry of Sweden: http://www.sweden.gov.se
Foreign Affairs Ministry of Norway: http://www.dep.no/ud/
Foreign Affairs Ministry of Denmark: http://www.um.dk
Foreign Affairs Ministry of Finland: http://formin.finland.fi
Finland's EU Presidency: http://www.eu2006.fi/
Baltic Development Forum: http://www.bdforum.org
Council of the Baltic Sea States: http://www.cbss.st
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