Latvian Foreign Minister: Latvia should increase funding for development co-operation

Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins believes that Latvia should considerably increase financial aid earmarked for development co-operation, in order to reach the level of 0.17% of the GDP by 2010, as set out in the conclusions of the General Affairs and External Relations Council. The Foreign Minister expressed this opinion at the conference "The contribution of the European Neighbourhood Policy to the development of eastern neighbours".

In his address to participants of the conference, Minister Riekstins stated that development co-operation, used at national level by the EU Member States when providing assistance to their neighbours, is an important foreign policy instrument. The Minister noted that an understanding of the significance of Latvia's assistance and about the role of development assistance in Europe and in the world generally, should be increased among the wider community. 

At the same time, the Minister emphasized that for Latvia, when contributing to the development of the EU's eastern neighbours, it should be important to focus on as specific areas as possible, thus avoiding a fragmented and consequently ineffective utilisation of resources.

Minister Riekstins mentioned some positive examples in this respect: co-operation between the Central Election Commissions of Latvia and Georgia, sharing of our border guards' experience with their counterparts in neighbouring countries, co-operation at local authority level, and also co-operation in the fields in which Latvia has achieved a considerable level of professionalism and expertise among the states of the European Union.

Speaking about the priorities of the Baltic states in the context of the European Neighbourhood Policy, the Foreign Minister noted that the principal activities are targeted mainly toward the eastern neighbours. This can be justified both by the geographical proximity and by knowledge of that region. As a significant factor, Minister Riekstins emphasized the credit of trust given to Latvia by those eastern neighbours who have chosen to pursue a course toward Europe, and who see in Latvia and in the Baltic states jointly the proof of a successful outcome of reforms.

Minister Riekstins indicated that progress reports distributed by the European Commission in early April regarding the implementation of action plans in each of the neighbouring countries graphically demonstrate the differences between the countries, both in starting positions and in the implementation of reform processes. "Latvia, in negotiations with the next Presidency, should adopt the role of 'advocate' on behalf of the neighbouring countries in the East," Maris Riekstins underlined.

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