On 17 February 2004, at a special request by Chair of the Swedish Centre Party Maud Olofsson, the Latvian Ambassador to Sweden Artis Bertulis delivered a speech at the Swedish Riksdag. During an hour-long discussion, the Ambassador presented facts testifying of Latvia's capabilities to engage and provide its full-scale contribution in the EU processes, and answered the questions posed by Riksdag members.

Swedish Centre Party leader's choice to invite the Latvian Ambassador as a representative of the new EU member states can be traced down to the discussion and exhibition dedicated to the EU enlargement in the Swedish Parliament on February 11 of this year. During that discussion, Mr Bertulis had provided to members of the Swedish Riksdag a conclusive report on Latvia's capacity to contribute to the EU processes and initiatives, exemplifying Latvia's capability to cooperate within the Lisbon process by its fast economic and GDP growth, as well as by the vitality, flexibility and creative potential of its population.