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On 11 February 2026, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braže, attended a meeting of EU ambassadors to Latvia to discuss current EU affairs, including the priorities of the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework, EU enlargement, bureaucracy reduction, measures to boost EU global competitiveness and trade, the security situation in Europe and efforts to curb illegal migration, as well as transatlantic relations, support for Ukraine, and ways to intensify pressure on Russia in all its forms.
The meeting was organised by Cyprus, which currently holds the EU Presidency. The Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to Latvia, Solon Savva, presented the priorities of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU in the first six-month period of 2026.
Baiba Braže pointed out that Latvia’s priority throughout the Cyprus Presidency remains unchanged: support for Ukraine’s self-defence and containment of Russia in all its forms by enforcing strict sanctions, including the urgent approval of the EU’s twentieth sanctions package, taking action against Russia’s shadow fleet, and preventing attempts to circumvent sanctions. The Minister informed about Latvia’s support for Ukraine to date and called on all Member States to increase their efforts amid the energy crisis caused by Russia’s attacks.
Other issues of importance to Latvia include strengthening the EU’s security and defence capabilities, boosting the EU’s global competitiveness, and the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework. In Latvia’s view, it is important that this framework takes into account national contributions to reinforcing the EU’s external border, tackling illegal migration, implementing EU sanctions, and related priorities.
Baiba Braže informed the ambassadors about Latvia’s priorities and the work undertaken during the first month in the UN Security Council:
“During our first days in office, we took the opportunity to convene an emergency meeting of the Security Council. The first of these aimed to bring attention to Russia’s barbaric attacks against Ukraine. We will continue doing so. When I visited Ukraine in November, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andrii Sybiha, said that Latvia’s membership in the UN Security Council was also a victory for Ukraine. The Ukrainians are counting on us.”
The Minister also emphasised that Latvia, together with the UN Security Council member states (the United Kingdom, France, Denmark, and Greece) and Ukraine, is calling for a meeting to be held on 24 February, marking four years since Russia launched its full-scale aggression in Ukraine.
The meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs is a customary event organised by the ambassador of the Member State holding the Presidency at the start of its term.
Additional information
- “An autonomous EU, open to the world” is the slogan of the Cyprus Presidency. The Presidency seeks to enhance the EU’s cohesion, security, and competitiveness, enabling the EU to cooperate confidently with its international partners while also acting independently when necessary.
- Further information on Cyprus Presidency priorities.