Latvia's Presidency of the Baltic Council of Ministers 2007 |
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The foreign policy priority of the Latvian Presidency is the co-operation of the Baltic states within the European Neighbourhood Policy framework. On 23 November 2007, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Baltic Assembly, in co-operation with the Representation of the European Commission in Latvia, organised a high-level conference The Baltic States and the EU Neighbourhood Policy. The purpose of the conference was to emphasise the role of the Baltic states in implementing the Neighbourhood Policy, and to encourage exchange-of-experience with countries of the Mediterranean region in implementing the aforesaid policy. During its Presidency, Latvia is continuing the work begun in 2006 in the energy sector. Energy experts have developed the common energy strategy for the Baltic states, which is expected to receive approval in the nearest future. Agreement has been achieved at the level of Government leaders to assign Baltic energy companies to continue discussions on the issues related to the formation of a company to be responsible for implementation of a new nuclear power station construction project. During Latvia's Presidency, work will also continue on the resolving of problems in the field of the security of energy supplies, evaluating the usefulness of the construction of new connections, and analysing the opportunities for the establishment of new storage facilities for energy resources. In the transportation sector, Latvia is putting greater emphasis on further development of the Rail Baltica project. Latvia has concluded bilateral memoranda of understanding with Lithuania and Estonia on further co-operation in the sphere of the project development. At the meeting of the Ministers of Transport of the three Baltic states on 4 September 2007, parties reached the agreement on development of common action plan for passenger and cargo traffic, as well as on continued cooperation on Via Baltica project development. In the area of domestic policy successful co-operation within the Schengen Task force framework is taking place to facilitate the simultaneous accession of the three Baltic states to the Schengen area. Land and sea border of the Baltic states will be open to the Schengen area on 21 December 2007. Activities in the defence sector are marked by close co-operation in co-ordinating joint military purchases (radar for air space monitoring, armoured personnel carriers, as well as the supply of munitions). Successful work is going on the formation of the joint Baltic battalion for participation in the NATO Response Force by the year 2010. Work continues on the development of a command and control system in aerial surveillance. In the environment sector co-operation among the Baltic states continues on environmental protection of the Baltic Sea, on issues of climate change and trading of emissions, and on the development of a support policy for renewable energy resources. At the moment the Baltic states are working on a mutually acceptable solution for the determination of coastal protected areas within the Natura 2000 network. The agenda of the Latvian Presidency of the BCM includes a number of new co-operation initiatives. Taking into account the current trend of an increasing rate of motor vehicle accidents in the Baltic states, particular attention is being paid to trilateral co-operation in the road traffic safety sector. The establishment of a working group of experts is in process, and guidelines are being drafted for a common road safety campaign for the Baltic states. In accord with the agreement reached by the three Prime Ministers on 8 December 2006, the Home Affairs Committee is working on developing a rapid reaction unit to deal with crisis situations in the Baltic states. Another new initiative is the co-operation of the Baltic states in the prevention and combating of illegal migration. A number of international operations was held this year, and the development of a common risk analysis for the Baltic states is in progress. Co-operation continues in the exchange of expert experience on the reduction of the flow of illegal immigrants and on the identification of forged travel documents. BMP Secretariat: bcm.secretariat@mfa.gov.lv
Conference "The Baltic States and the EU Neighbourhood Policy " History of cooperation among the Baltic States BCM and Baltic Assembly Co-operation Current events
History of cooperation among the Baltic StatesOn 12 May 1990, the Chairmen of the Supreme Councils of the three Baltic States signed a Declaration on Unity and Co-operation. This declaration renewed the Agreement on Unity and Co-operation accepted by Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania in 1934, and established the Baltic Council. Its main purpose was to contribute to the restoration of complete independence of the Baltic States. On 8 November 1991, the Baltic Assembly was formed - the institution for parliamentary co-operation among Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania. After the restoration of independence of the Baltic States and their international recognition, it became necessary to create a more suitable format for the co-ordination of trilateral co-operation in various sectors. Based on the experience of the three parliaments and governments in co-operation since 1990, an Agreement on Baltic Parliamentary and Governmental Co-operation between the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Latvia and the Republic of Lithuania was signed during a meeting of the prime ministers on 13 June 1994. It provided for the formation of the BCM, and defined the relationship between the Baltic Assembly and the Baltic Council of Ministers. To ensure the purposeful activity of the BCM at the level of the sector ministries, Committees of Senior Officials were formed in the same year. Until 2004, there were 18 Committees active within the BCM framework. Accession to the European Union and NATO meant the achievement of many of BCM's original goals. Many issues had shifted to the EU and specific matters were more effectively resolved in the broader, regional context. Examples of this were the context of cooperation between 3 Baltic and 3 Nordic states, the Council of the Baltic Sea States, and others. The search was on for a new trilateral co-operation rationale and form. The guidelines for BCM reform were set forth in January of 2003. On November 28, the prime ministers signed the Protocol Amending the Agreement on Baltic Parliamentary and Governmental Co-operation between the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Latvia and the Republic of Lithuania. Reform of the BCM was concluded with the drafting and acceptance of new regulations for Senior Officials and task groups. The regulations called for a reduction of the number of Senior Officials Committees, and provided for the formation of special task groups in sectors where there were no Committees of Senior Officials. Since 2005, there are five permanent BCM committees - Defence, Energy, Home Affairs, Transport and Communications, and an Environment Committee. At the same time, there is a continuation of active co-operation, developed over the years, in other sectors outside the institutional BCM framework. Baltic Council of MinistersThe Baltic Council of Ministers (BCM), founded on 13 June 1994, is an institution for co-operation among the governments of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania. The BCM is responsible for governmental co-operation of the Baltic states, as well as for the co-operation among the governments and the Baltic Assembly - a trilateral parliamentary co-operation format. The BCM makes decisions regarding the execution of recommendations of the Baltic Assembly, and promotes a broad and productive mutual co-operation. The BCM has decision-making powers only in the presence of representatives of all Baltic states, and decisions are approved on the basis of consensus. The presidency of the BCM is rotated among the Baltic states annually. Latvia will be the presiding state of the BCM in 2007.
Council of Prime Ministers The Council of Prime Ministers is the highest authority of the BCM. The Council meets at least once a year. The Prime Ministers' Council adopts the basic documents regarding priority sectors of co-operation of the Baltic States. Co-operation Council Foreign Ministers of the Baltic States are members of the BCM Co-operation Council. The Council is responsible for the overall co-ordination of Baltic States' co-operation. It meets at least once a year. At the joint meeting of the Co-operation Council and the Baltic Assembly in the Baltic Council, the Chairman of the Co-operation Council (the foreign minister of the presiding state) provides a report on accomplishments during the year. During the Baltic Council session the priorities of Baltic co-operation are approved, together with the plan of action of the BCM for the coming year. The Co-operation Council makes decisions having to do with the resolutions of the Baltic Assembly. Committees of Senior Officials Committees of Senior Officials (CSO) are units within the BCM framework working on co-operation in specific sectors. Since 2005, there are five permanent BCM committees - Defence, Energy, Home Affairs, Transport, and a Committee on Environment. The CSO consists of one representative of the appropriate sector ministry from each state and experts. The CSO implements decisions made by the Council of Prime Ministers and the Co-operation Council, and fulfils other responsibilities assigned to it by the Prime Ministers' Council, the Co-operation Council and other ministers. The CSO, within the context of its particular sector, submits proposals on priorities in Baltic States' co-operation, and also the annual BCM plan of action. It also provides a report on its work during the previous year, and submits it for debate to the Co-operation Council. To perform special tasks in sectors not covered by the Committees of Senior Officials, Task Forces may be formed. These are formed at the initiative of the Council of Prime Ministers, or at the recommendation of other ministers, and are approved by the Co-operation Council. The Task Force must perform its assignment within a given period of time. In 2005, a special Task Force was created to coordinate the activities of the Baltic States in the process of acceding to the Schengen Agreement. Senior officials in sector committees from Latvia
Secretariat The BCM Secretariat functions within the framework of the presiding state's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and its purpose is to organize the work of the BCM during that year. Working together with the CSO, the Secretariat defines priorities and develops a plan of action for the BCM for the coming year. At the end of the year, the Secretariat prepares a report, which is presented to the Baltic Assembly by the Chairman of the Co-operation Council. The Secretariat also arranges the meetings of the Council of Prime Ministers and the Co-operation Council, and organizes other BCM activities. The Secretariat ensures the flow of information and documentation with the Committees of Senior Officials. The Secretariat in 2007: Anda Orchard, Deputy Director of the European Union Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Edgars Trumkalns, Head of the Second EU Member States and General Policies Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Raimonds Vingris, Third Secretary of the Second EU Member States and General Policies Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs E-mail: bcm.secretariat@mfa.gov.lv Terms of Reference for the Baltic Council of Ministers BCM Regulations for Committees of Senior Officials and Task Forces BCM and Baltic Assembly Co-operationThe Baltic Council of Ministers and the Baltic Assembly have an annual joint session known as the Baltic Council. Its agenda includes the following:
The priorities and action plan for Baltic co-operation in the coming year are approved by the Baltic Council, and the report of the Chairman of the BCM Co-operation Council on the achievements of the year is presented. Co-operation between the Baltic Council of Ministers and the Baltic Assembly also takes place at the level of committees and secretariats. Other linksCooperation in the Baltic Sea region | |||||
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Since 1 January 2007 Latvia has been fulfilling the functions of the Presidency of the Baltic Council of Ministers. Presidency of the BCM provides Latvia the opportunity to practically and rationally resolve the most significant issues of co-operation among the Baltic states and to ensure the implementation of our common goals and interests in various sectors.
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