Dear people of Latvia,

For more than a year now, Latvia has been a full member state of the European Union. We have been active in helping to shape the EU during this period of time.  We ratified the European Constitutional Treaty and thus expressed our views about the future of the EU. We have strictly defined our national positions on issues such as the EU's new financial plans, as well as concrete directives and regulations. We have succeeded in influencing EU policy.

This first year of experience tells us what has to be done next. We must use our foreign policy concepts to develop a strategy for Latvia's future in the EU. We must define Latvia's interests precisely, looking at that which we wish to achieve and at how we can best reach our goals.

Experts, academics and civil servants have met several times over the course of the past year to talk about Latvia's national values, interests and priorities in the context of the European Union. The results of these discussions showed how important it is to involve various kinds of people in the drafting of documents that are of national importance. The government cannot and must not dictate terms in any unilateral way. It must be able to identify and to defend Latvia's interests.

It is for that reason that the Foreign Ministry is now releasing for debate and discussion a document of ideas which refers to Latvia's strategy in the European Union.  This document is just the first step in the drafting of the strategy.  The goal is to encourage debate about Latvia's national values and interests in the EU.  Only after such a debate will we be able to define Latvia's national values and interests in the EU, then establishing our national platform for Latvia's positions vis-à-vis the European Union.  On the basis of this platform, we will prepare a plan of action for our activities in the EU.  The national platform and the action plan will be key components of the "Latvia in the European Union" strategy.

This will be a step-by-step process, and at each stage we will be consulting with members of the public.

In the document of ideas, we call for a discussion about values.  What are the overall values of the member states of the European Union in which we have joined?  What are the national values in Latvia which we would like to strengthen with the help of the EU?

The fundamental values of the EU's member states are defined in the EU's founding treaties and in a series of other documents. These include freedom and sovereignty, peace and security, as well as democracy. The EU has existed for more than 50 years, and that proves the sustainability of these ideas in Europe. These are also the fundamental values of the Latvian state, as defined in our Constitution and in other documents.  We must protect these values and develop them further.

As far as Latvia's national values are concerned, we hold these to be people, culture and living space. These issues are high on the agenda in discussing the Latvian National Development Plan and other documents. But what do people think?  What are the thoughts of Latvia's residents?  Are these also their values and priorities, ones which must be strengthened with the help of the EU?

The Foreign Ministry calls on all of Latvia's residents to become active participants in the drafting of Latvia's strategy for the EU, to express their views about the document of ideas. Letters with proposals, comments and assessments can be sent to the Foreign Ministry at Brivibas Boulevard 36, Riga, LV-1395 (please mark the envelope "EU Strategy"), or to the e-mail address strategijaes@mfa.gov.lv. Constructive views and proposals will be evaluated carefully and taken into account as much as possible.

Only if we work together in setting out goals and then pursuing them will we be able to make full and proper use of all of the opportunities which the EU affords.