Foreign Minister to participate in European Council meeting

On 18-19 June, Foreign Minster Maris Riekstins, as part of the delegation of Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis, will participate in the European Council meeting. 

The European Council is to discuss the Lisbon Treaty, the EU's institutional issues, the economic, financial and social situation in the EU, climate change and sustainable development, illegal immigration, as well as external relations.

At the European Council, it is expected that Member States will achieve an agreement concerning the solution on legal guarantees to Ireland with regard to the Lisbon Treaty. The legal guarantees are planned to be adopted by a joint resolution of Member States and heads of governments. An agreement is also to be reached on the candidate for next President of the European Commission. Latvia supports the provision of legal guarantees to Ireland if their contents and substance will follow the agreement by EU states and heads of governments at the European Council of December 2008. In view of the results of the elections to the European Parliament, Latvia considers that the current President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso, is a suitable candidate for a repeated nomination to office.

Based on the European Commission's report on the implementation of the European Economic Recovery Plan, the European Council will evaluate what has been accomplished so far for the stabilisation of financial markets and economic recovery. Discussions have also been planned about the European Commission's proposal on the improvement of financial supervision. With the aim of reducing the impact of economic recession on the social sector, the Council will discuss the proposal by the European Commission to allow the EU Member States to cancel or to reduce national co-financing for the European Social Fund projects to be implemented in 2009 and 2010.

Latvia considers this EC proposal to be a significant step in supporting Member States in the implementation of employment measures during the economic and financial crisis. Latvia would be interested to apply the low co-financing approach also to other EU funds as well as to transpose the European Commission proposals into specific legal acts.

In preparations for the Copenhagen Conference on the regime for the mitigation of post-2012 climate change, the European Council will emphasise that the EU expects an equivalent contribution by other developed countries and the commitment of developing countries which is adequate to their capabilities. The EU Member States have already agreed that all the countries of the world are to contribute (except least developed countries) and the contributions should be based on the adequacy of commitments and 'polluter pays' principles.

At the same time, the EU retains the right not to apply the said principles to the internal distribution of the EU contribution. Latvia holds a view that as many as possible countries should be involved in the implementation of the future climate change policy. Latvia also supports the principles laid down by international agreements. In the nearest future it is necessary to agree on principles for the distribution of commitments within the EU.

Latvia notes with satisfaction that the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region is on the European Council's agenda and welcomes the Council decision to adopt the strategy in October 2009. Likewise, Latvia appreciates the reference in the European Council conclusions to the development of the Baltic Region Energy Interconnection Plan, which will be approved at the European Council by signing a Memorandum of Understanding at the level of Prime Ministers.

The European Council meeting also includes an agenda point on fighting illegal immigration by the conclusion of readmission agreements with immigrants' countries of origin, by the introduction of the European Pact on Migration and Asylum, and by strengthening the role of Frontex (European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union). Latvia recognises the seriousness of the situation in the Mediterranean Region and the urgency of a rapid and rational solution. At the same time, any initiatives on internal displacements of persons within the EU borders should be based on the Member States' voluntary participation.

In the external relations section, it is planned to issue a declaration on Afghanistan and Pakistan, highlighting the EU's interest in the stablisation of the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan, further EU-Pakistani co-operation areas following the EU-Pakistan Summit on 17 June, as well as the European Union's readiness to support the process of the forthcoming presidential elections in Afghanistan.

The conclusions of the European Council are planned to include also references to the strengthening of the European Neighborhood Policy Eastern Partnership during the Czech Presidency, the need to continue working actively on the Eastern Partnership, as well as transatlantic relations and the situation in Burma/Myanmar.

The position of Latvia on draft Council conclusions has been approved by the Cabinet meeting of 17 June:

http://www.mk.gov.lv/lv/mk/mksedes/saraksts/darbakartiba/?sede=368

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