As global economic and political integration proceeds, regional cooperation is assuming greater importance. The Baltic Sea Region has become one of the most dynamic in Europe, and with enlargement of the European Union its strategic importance is also increasing. The region embodies great potential for economic development.

Latvia is actively involved in developing bilateral relations with all countries of the region, trilateral cooperation among the Baltic States, and cooperation among the eight Baltic and Nordic countries. It participates in various forms of regional cooperation, as well as a number of regional initiatives (CBSS, the Baltic Development Forum, etc.).

An important role in promoting regional cooperation is played by the EU Northern Dimension initiative. The key objective of regional cooperation is to ensure stability, development and security in the region.

The achievement of more closely integrated cooperation between the eight Baltic Nordic countries is political testimony to our shared values and goals. Such cooperation will increase the role of Northern Europe both in Europe and globally.

Latvia is actively engaged in the political dialogue between Baltic and Nordic countries at the Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Cooperation Minister levels. At meetings of Prime Ministers and Foreign Ministers, discussions focus on developments in foreign policy (the EU, NATO, regional cooperation). Meetings of Cooperation Ministers aim to coordinate practical cooperation in various fields, set priorities, and discuss the preparation of cooperation programmes falling under the auspices of the Nordic Council of Ministers.

Priority areas in Latvia's cooperation with the Nordic countries include education and culture, energy, information technology, and cross-border cooperation.

Contacts between supranational political institutions play a key role in Baltic-Nordic cooperation. The Baltic Assembly works closely with the Nordic Council, while the Baltic Council of Ministers cooperates with the Nordic Council of Ministers. Working is being undertaken towards the gradual deepening of this cooperation.

Latvia is interested to continue developing cooperation with the Nordic countries at all levels:

• by promoting of people-to-people contacts: by enhancing and supporting cooperation among local governments, non-government organisations, and schools, and cooperation in the realms of culture, education, tourism and others;
• by intensifying cooperation among political parties and politicians;
• by expanding parliamentary-level contacts with the Nordic countries both within the scope of bilateral relations and the context of cooperation between the Baltic Assembly and the Nordic Council.

Information on Nordic cooperation institutions and their work with the Baltic States

The Nordic Council (NC), is an organisation aimed at promoting interparliamentary cooperation in the Nordic countries. The NC incorporates all Nordic parliamentarians, and plays an essential role in coordinating the work of Nordic parliaments and governments. Each Nordic country assumes the presidency of the NC for one year, with rotation of this position taking place in accordance with a set procedure and following the principle that the country presiding at the Nordic Council of Ministers presides over the NC the following year. Norway holds the presidency of the NC in 2003. The NC has a standing secretariat, located in Copenhagen.

Past presiding countries of the NC have been Denmark (1996), Finland (1997), Norway (1998), Sweden (1999), Iceland (2000), Denmark (2001), and Finland (2002).

The NC conducts its work primarily through the medium of meetings and conferences, of which the annual autumn session is the most significant. The 53^rd session of the NC was held from 29 to 31 October 2001, and was noteworthy for the structural changes that were initiated, which stipulate that the coordinating functions of the NC be entrusted to the Presidium of the NC and five committees – the Culture and Education and Training Committee, Welfare Committee, Citizens' and Consumer Rights Committee, Environment and Natural Resources Committee, and Business and Industry Committee. It is planned to entrust the NC Presidium with special responsibilities for foreign and security policy. With the restructuring of the NC, the effectiveness and flexibility of its cooperation with the Nordic Council of Ministers, the Baltic Assembly, and other institutions involved in regional cooperation is likely to increase.

The Nordic Council of Ministers (NCM) is an organisation dealing with cooperation among Ministries of the Nordic countries from all sectors. The work of the NCM in each Nordic country is coordinated by a Cooperation Minister appointed by the NCM. The country holding the NCM presidency in 2003 is Sweden.

Sweden's priorities during its presidency of the NCM are related to integration: integration within the Nordic countries; integration among Nordic countries; integration between the Nordic countries and the adjacent area; and the integration of the Nordic countries in European cooperation. The presidency has over the past few years rotated as follows: Finland (1996), Norway (1997), Sweden (1998), Iceland (1999), Denmark (2000), Finland (2001), Norway (2002). The standing secretariat of the NCM is also located in Copenhagen.

Meetings of the eight Baltic and Nordic Ministers of Foreign Affairs are held on a regular basis. The meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the eight countries that took place on 26 August 2002 in Tallinn focused on the EU enlargement process, integration into NATO, regional cooperation, and the International Criminal Court. The Nordic countries reaffirmed their support for the efforts undertaken by the Baltic States to join the EU and NATO. The next meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the eight countries is scheduled for the end of August 2003 in Latvia.

Meetings of the Cooperation Ministers of the Nordic countries (the Baltic States are represented by Ministers of Foreign Affairs) take place annually. At the meeting that took place from 27 to 28 June 2002 in Vilnius, the Baltic States voiced their appreciation of the NCM cooperation programmes previously undertaken with the adjacent area, which have assisted in the integration of the Baltic States into the European Union and the establishment of contacts among NGOs. For their part, the Nordic countries informed of the new NCM initiative on the facilitation of cross-border cooperation in the Baltic Sea region, which foresees the implementation of Baltic-Nordic projects jointly with the regions of North-western Russia. The Nordic countries invited the relevant experts from the Baltic States to participate in the preparation of the NCM's cooperation programme for 2003.

The Nordic Council and the Baltic Assembly (BA) have held regular meetings since 1996, to discuss issues of mutual concern.

From 27 to 29 April 2003, the 4^th joint meeting of the Baltic Assembly and the Nordic Council took place in Lund, Sweden, at which issues related to fighting organised crime, cooperation in crisis situations, and development of regional policy within the EU, including the Northern Dimension and the European Convention, were discussed.

At the end of the meeting, the Presidium of the Baltic Assembly and the Presidium of the Northern Council issued a joint statement, announcing the fields in which the NC and the BA plan to cooperate from 2003 to 2005.

Text of the joint statement (PDF file, 135.8 Mb)

On 18 and 19 August 2002, a meeting of Prime Ministers of the Baltic and Nordic countries was held in Riga, at which current issues in the EU and NATO enlargement and cooperation in the energy sector were discussed.

Meetings of representatives from the Baltic and Nordic countries in 2002:

27 – 28 June – meeting of Cooperation Ministers in Vilnius
18 – 19 August – meeting of Prime Ministers in Riga
26 August – meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Tallinn