Latvia's Minister of Foreign Affairs to participate in the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council in Brussels [15 Mar 2005]

On 16 and 17 March 2005, the Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Artis Pabriks, is participating in the regular meeting of the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) in Brussels. 

This meeting's agenda includes preparation for the European Council scheduled for March 22 and 23, which will be focusing on the mid-term review of the Lisbon Strategy. The EU's priority for the successful implementation of the strategy is the facilitation of economic growth and employment. To this aim, the following objectives have been set out: improvement of the EU's internal market, improvement of business environment for small and medium-sized enterprises, development of knowledge-based society, employment, productivity, investment in human capital and infrastructure development, and environmental sustainability. 

The participants of the meeting will also discuss issues related to the EU Stability and Growth Pact, sustainable development and climate change. Another items on the meeting's agenda are the EU's financial outlook and current possibilities of launching EU accession negotiations with Croatia. 

Concerning the EU's external relations, the meeting will address the cooperation between the EU and Russia. The Luxembourg presidency will inform on the coordination process of Road Maps (working programmes) for the EU-Russia's four common spaces (Economic; Freedom, Security and Justice; External Security; and Research, Education and Culture). Latvia is interested in concluding a border agreement with Russia as soon as possible.

The agenda of the GAERC also includes a discussion on the Middle East peace process, general advantage system, European Neighbourhood Policy, and situation in Sudan, Syria and Lebanon.

Latvia's position on these issues was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers on March 15, while the European Affairs Commission of the Saeima (Parliament) is reviewing them on March 16.

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