Foreign Minister and Swedish Development Co-operation Minister discuss prospects for joint projects [29 May 2008]

On 29 May 2008, the Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs met with Sweden's Development Co-operation Minister Gunilla Carlsson to discuss development co-operation prospects for the future. Both ministers talked about the contribution to the development of the EU's eastern neighbouring states and the financing of development co-operation. Sweden's Minister would congratulate Latvia if it were to increase the amount of financing allocated for development co-operation so as to reach, by 2010, the level indicated in the EU External Relations Council conclusions.

The Ministers exchanged views on the joint development co-operation projects implemented to date. The Memorandum of Understanding between Latvia, Sweden and Moldova on the Co-operation programme for support to the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, with specific focus on EU integration was mentioned as a successful example.

During the meeting, Minister Riekstins invited the Swedish side to continue co-operation in realising joint education projects in the European Neighbourhood Policy countries, and to consider the possibility of launching such projects in the region of Central Asia.

The meeting of the Latvian Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins and Sweden's Development Co-operation Minister Gunilla Carlsson took place as part of the annual conference on the International Compact with Iraq in Stockholm, Sweden.

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