Foreign Minister advises about sector policies during the presidency of Portugal and planned developments during the presidency of Slovenia

Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins presented at the 12 February meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers an informative report On the progress of sector policies during the presidency of Portugal and planned developments during the presidency of Slovenia.  

During the second half of 2007 Portugal presided at the Council of the European Union. Its most important success is considered to be the signing of the Lisbon Treaty (http://europa.eu/lisbon_treaty/full_text/index_en.htm) on 13 December last year, which ended debates on necessary reforms in the EU which had lasted over a number of years. Ratification of the Lisbon Treaty by member states is expected during 2008, so that it may come into force on 1 January 2009. In Latvia the treaty is expected to be ratified during the first half of this year. 

To project the further development and future challenges of the EU, the European Council passed a decision on 14 December 2007 to establish an independent Reflection Group. Former President Vaira Vike-Freiberga of Latvia was confirmed as its Vice-Chairperson.

Also during Portugal's presidency the decision was adopted to enlarge the Schengen area and to abolish border control on the interior borders of the nine new EU member states. Much attention was given to improving EU's global competitiveness and to the development of the Community's domestic market, emphasising the importance of social cohesion and financial sustainability. A new trend emerged at the EU level: the integration of aspects of environmental protection into other EU policy areas, such as transport and energy. During the Portuguese presidency discussions also began on a 3rd energy package, which the European Commission sees as an effective instrument for ensuring the independence of EU energy supply. 

The main priorities of the Slovenian presidency will be energy and the issues of climate change, which are closely related to it. Another key priority will be the consolidation of EU growth and competitiveness. Already on 23 January this year the Climate action and renewable energy package was published, which heads of states and governments will discuss at the 2008 spring European Council, in addition to approval of the renewed Community Lisbon Programme for 2008–2010 and an exchange of views on the future of the cohesion policy. Work will also continue on a "health check" of the Common Agricultural Policy, improvement of operations in the domestic market of the Community, formation of a European social model, as well as issues relating to economic migration, transport sustainability and criminal law. 

Particularly energetic action will be required at both expert and political level to represent Latvian interests in discussions on drawing up and introducing a common energy policy and EU projects to reduce climate change. 

When implementing projects in various EU policy areas it is necessary to keep in mind the different pace of economic growth, diversity of economic sectors, as well as the level of prosperity and available resources of member states.

 The Foreign Ministry, working with sector Ministries, prepares this kind of informative report twice a year when the presiding country of the EU Council changes.

The report is shaped as a concentrated review of sector policy development, reflecting the progress of EU policy documents and legislation of importance to Latvia drafted during the Portuguese presidency and planned development during the Slovenian presidency. Assessing the working programme drawn up by the Slovenian presidency, the Foreign Ministry determined Latvia's priority issues, which, when Latvian national interests are being represented, should receive special attention.

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