Foreign Minister encourages European Union neighbouring states to take advantage of opportunities offered by the European Neighbourhood Policy [23 Nov 2007]

On 23 November, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins together with Erika Zommere, President of the Baltic Assembly, opened the 13th session of the Baltic Council and an international high-level conference The Baltic States and the EU Neighbourhood Policy.

The aim of the conference is to raise general awareness of the European Neighbourhood Policy and to focus on the role of the Baltic states in the implementation of the said policy, sharing with eastern neighbours the experience acquired by Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania on their way to European integration.

"I would like to encourage our neighbouring countries to explore all the possibilities and to take all the advantages the European Neighbourhood Policy offers", Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins noted.

Foreign Minister Riekstins emphasized that the added value of this conference was the opportunity to hear the opinions of the European Union's neighbouring states on the enhancement of future co-operation both at the inter-parliamentary and executive level and within various sectors, as well as their proposals for the improvement of EU financial assistance mechanisms. Minister Riekstins pointed out that the expertise of the non-governmental sector plays a significant role in the implementation of the European Neighbourhood Policy goals.

The European Neighbourhood Policy was put forward as one of the priorities of the Latvian presidency in the Baltic Council of Ministers in 2007. Thus The Baltic States and the EU Neighbourhood Policy conference is taking place within the framework of the annual meeting of of the Baltic Assembly and the Baltic Council. The conference is being organised by the Latvian Foreign Ministry and the Baltic Assembly in association with the European Commission representation in Latvia.

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