In discussion with Foreign Minister Riekstins, Estonian Prime Minister Ansip positive about Latvian government's measures for economic stabilisation [11 Mar 2010]

Both parties reviewed the economic situation in Latvia and in Estonia. When characterising the situation in Latvia, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins noted that several indicators demonstrated first positive signs of economic stabilisation. The Estonian Prime Minister, for his part, gave a positive estimate of measures taken by the government of Latvia for the normalisation of the situation.

Dealing with the prospects for introducing the euro in both countries, Prime Minister Ansip told about Estonia's plans to join the common area of European currency in 2011, and noted the significance of that for the region's competitiveness. Both parties shared the opinion that it was important for the euro adoption criteria to remain stable.

During the discussion of activities by Latvian and Estonian businesses on the markets of both countries, Foreign Minister Riekstins noted that the building material producer SAKRET and the catering company LIDO were successfully working in Estonia. Both parties discussed also the promotion of a dialogue and information sharing between the business communities of the two countries, and Minister Riekstins invited Prime Minister Ansip to consider a possibility of bringing along a business delegation when coming on a visit to Riga this July. 

As part of his official visit, Foreign Minister Riekstins met with the Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Head of the Foreign Affairs Commission, Sven Mikser, and with Head of the European Affairs Commission, Marko Mihkelson. Topics for discussion were bilateral co-operation between the countries, the European Union agenda, as well as security policy.