On 27 November 2020, State Secretaries and Directors General of the European Union Member States took part in an informal video-conference, at which Portugal as an incoming EU Presidency presented its priorities. The European External Action Service (EAAS), the European Commission and Member States exchanged views on the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the work of the EU Member State foreign services and the EU’s joint action to address the effects of the crisis triggered by the pandemic, as well as discussing human resources management at the EEAS.
The State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Andris Pelšs, represented Latvia at the meeting.
In the discussion, State Secretaries shared experience on work under the crisis conditions. They exchanged views on their experience gained during the joint efforts of the EU Member State consular services organizing the repatriation of EU nationals from third countries and support from Team Europe for partner countries to address the consequences of the COVID-19 crisis in the humanitarian, social and economic sectors.
In the context of how the COVID-19 pandemic has been affecting the work of consular services, it was acknowledged that both the work organisation of Foreign Services in EU Member States and earlier political priorities had to be revised and adjusted. As concerns ensuring the operation of the Foreign Service during a crisis, Andris Pelšs praised the work of the Latvian Foreign Service as well as support from the EU Member States and the EEAS in repatriating citizens. He also highlighted the areas to be improved at the EU level – information security in the digital environment, consular cooperation between EU Member States and support for employees working remotely.