News
Minister Rinkēvičs: agreement vital for Europe’s future achieved in Brussels [01 Feb 2012]
On 30 January, at the informal meeting of members of the European Council in Brussels, the leaders of 25 states endorsed the Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union. The treaty lays down principles to be followed by the states when drawing up their budgets in order to avoid excessive budget deficits in future and a recurrent debt crisis.
Priorities of Latvia for the Danish Presidency [30 Jan 2012]
Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs to take part in General Affairs Council in Brussels [27 Jan 2012]
On 27 January, Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs will take part in the session of the European Union’s General Affairs Council in Brussels. The Council will focus on the EU’s next multiannual financial framework. Foreign Minister Rinkēvičs intends to speak about key priorities for Latvia: retaining the cohesion appropriations at least at the current level, as well as fair and equitable distribution of direct payments to EU farmers under the Common Agricultural Policy.
Foreign Minister of Latvia calls on EU not to delay granting candidate status to Serbia [24 Jan 2012]
On 23 January, Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs took part in the session of the European Union Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels during which the foreign ministers discussed the current situation in Iran, Myanmar, Syria, Serbia and Kosovo, as well as Belarus. In the light of the European Council conclusions of 9 December 2001 and the concerns over Iran's continued refusal to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and to comply with the UN Security Council’s resolutions, the foreign ministers agreed on extending the scope of EU restrictive measures and broadening existing sanctions against Iran, including an embargo on oil imports.
Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs to take part in Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels [23 Jan 2012]
On 23 January, Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs will take part in the session of the European Union’s Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels. The Council will see a foreign ministers’ discussion on the current situation in Syria, Myanmar, Iran, Belarus, Sudan and South Sudan, Egypt, the Middle East Peace Process, Serbia, and Kosovo.
Secretariat of Latvian Presidency of the Council of the European Union to start working on 1 February [17 Jan 2012]
On 17 January, the Cabinet of Ministers supported the establishment of the Secretariat of Latvia’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union as well as approving the Secretariat’s Rules of Procedure. The Secretariat of Latvian Presidency of the EU Council will be an institution of direct administration subordinate to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the aim of which is to ensure a timely and qualitative preparation of Latvia for its first Presidency of the EU Council in the first half of 2015, as well as coordinating the work during the Presidency.
Head of EU Directorate at MFA Artis Bērtulis takes part in event for launching Danish EU Presidency [10 Jan 2012]
On 10 January the EU House hosted the event for launching the Danish EU Presidency. Addresses were delivered by representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Commission Representation in Latvia, the Embassy of Poland and the Embassy of Denmark. As from 1 January 2012, Denmark takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, being a part of the Trio Presidency held by Poland, Denmark and Cyprus.
Foreign Minister Rinkēvičs meets Ambassador of Greece to Latvia [09 Dec 2011]
On 9 December, Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs met with the Ambassador of Greece to Latvia Chryssanthie Panayotopoulou who had arrived on a farewell visit. The Foreign Minister thanked the Ambassador for her contribution to strengthening bilateral relations. Both parties expressed satisfaction at the excellent relations between Latvia and Greece.
Foreign Minister Rinkēvičs meets Ambassador of Ukraine [09 Dec 2011]
On 9 December, Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs received an accreditation visit from the Ambassador of Ukraine to Latvia Anatoliy Oliynyk. During the meeting the parties discussed topical subjects of bilateral relations, economic cooperation, as well as the EU-Ukraine relations.
Foreign Minister Rinkēvičs congratulates Croatia on signing Treaty of Accession with EU [09 Dec 2011]
On 9 December in Brussels, in the framework of the European Council, an official ceremony was held for the signing of the Treaty concerning the Accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union. The Treaty was signed by the leaders of 27 EU Member States and the President and Prime Minister of Croatia. For the Republic of Latvia, the Treaty was signed by Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis.
Foreign Minister Rinkēvičs: EU external relations instruments must be effective [09 Dec 2011]
Proposals by the European Commission on financial instruments in the external relations funding for 2014-2020 are ambitious and on the whole can be rated positively, Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs recognised. These EC proposals reflect EU’s priorities in foreign policy: enlargement, neighbourhood policy, cooperation with strategic partners, and development cooperation. If compared to the 2007-2013 planning period the architecture of external relations instruments has not been radically changed. At the same time, it has been proposed to considerably increase the volumes of funding for external relations.
Foreign Minister Rinkēvičs supports granting EU candidate status to Serbia [07 Dec 2011]
On 6 December in Vilnius, Minister of Foreign Affairs Edgars Rinkēvičs met with the Foreign Minister of Serbia Vuk Jeremich. During the conversation, Minister Rinkēvičs expressed support for granting to Serbia the status of an EU candidate country.
Foreign Minister Rinkēvičs commends broad support in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (hereinafter – Macedonia) for the EU and NATO membership [07 Dec 2011]
On 6 December in Vilnius, Minister of Foreign Affairs Edgars Rinkēvičs met with the Foreign Minister of Macedonia Nikola Poposki. During the conversation Edgars Rinkēvičs expressed support for Macedonia’s aspirations to join the NATO and the EU. Latvian Foreign Minister commended the very high level of popular support for the membership in these organisations.
Minister Rinkēvičs expresses support to Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration efforts [07 Dec 2011]
On 6 December, during the OSCE Foreign Ministers Meeting in Vilnius, Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs met with the Foreign Minister of Georgia Grigol Vashadze. Minister Rinkēvičs expressed satisfaction at Georgia’s achievements in the field of the integration with the EU and welcomed the European Commission’s decision to launch negotiations on concluding an EU-Georgia agreement on a deep and comprehensive free trade area.
Foreign Minister Rinkēvičs highly appreciates Moldova’s progress in European integration [07 Dec 2011]
On 6 December in Vilnius, on the sidelines of the 18th session of the Ministerial Council of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Foreign Affairs Edgars Rinkēvičs met with the Vice Prime Minister and Minister for European Integration of Moldova, Iurie Leanca. Minister Rinkēvičs expressed Latvia’s support to the EU integration efforts of Moldova and voiced hope that the negotiations on the Association Agreement could be concluded and the work would start on the drafting of the Free Trade Agreement.
Foreign Ministry Secretary of State Andris Teikmanis in Brussels speaks out against unfair proposals in EU multiannual budget [06 Dec 2011]
On 5 December, the Foreign Ministry Secretary of State Andris Teikmanis participated in the European Union (EU) General Affairs Council. The Council’s agenda included the topics concerning the EU multiannual financial framework, preparing for the European Council meeting on 9 December, the presentation by the European Commission of its work programme for 2012 and the annual growth survey, conclusions on the EU enlargement and the stabilisation and association process, as well as preparing the meeting of the Accession Conference with Iceland at Ministerial level.
Foreign Minister meets Latvian delegation on the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly [05 Dec 2011]
On 2 December, the Minister for Foreign Affairs Edgars Rinkēvičs met with the delegation of Latvia on the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). During the meeting the parties discussed the topical subjects on the PACE agenda and the cooperation between the Foreign Ministry and the Latvian delegation while advancing the national interests of Latvia in this forum.
Foreign Ministry Secretary of State Andris Teikmanis at General Affairs Council to discuss Europe’s future [02 Dec 2011]
On 5 December, the Foreign Ministry Secretary of State Andris Teikmanis will participate in the European Union (EU) General Affairs Council to be held in Brussels. One of key topics on the Council’s agenda is the preparation of the European Council session of 9 December. This is going to be one of the most significant meetings of European leaders over recent years. Beside seeking solutions to crisis, the heads of state in an official ceremony will sign with Croatia the Treaty of Accession to the European Union.
Foreign Minister of Latvia in Brussels supports granting EU candidate status to Serbia [02 Dec 2011]
From 30 November to 1 December, Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs took part in the session of the European Union (EU) Foreign Affairs Council, at which the foreign ministers discussed the EU Common Security and Defence Policy, the situation in the Western Balkans, the course of the Middle East Peace Process, a possible strengthening of the EU’s restrictive measures against Iran and the developments in the EU’s Southern neighbourhood.
Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs takes part in Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels [01 Dec 2011]
On 30 November and 1 December, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Edgars Rinkēvičs takes part in the current session of the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council held in Brussels. On 30 November the EU Foreign Ministers and Defence Ministers convened for a joint meeting.
