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On 15 October 2026, Minister of Foreign Affairs Baiba Braže met with the ambassadors of the European Union (EU) Member States to Latvia. During the meeting, Irish Ambassador to Latvia Marcella Smyth outlined the priorities of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU, whilst Baiba Braže highlighted Latvia’s interests in the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs expressed her support for the priorities set out by the Irish Presidency and highlighted the EU issues of greatest importance to Latvia – strengthening Latvia’s eastern border, continuing support for Ukraine, strengthening the EU’s security and defence capabilities, and protecting Latvia’s interests in negotiations on the EU Multiannual Financial Framework.
Speaking about the negotiations on the EU Multiannual Financial Framework for 2028–2034, the Minister highlighted Latvia’s key priorities – adequate funding for security and defence, additional funding for Latvia as an EU Member State on the EU’s eastern border, the equalisation of direct payments, and funding for EU connectivity and military mobility, including the implementation of the Rail Baltica project.
During the discussions, the Minister expressed her support for efforts to strengthen EU’s competitiveness, tying this to the priority of security. It is important that, whilst developing Europe’s economic and industrial potential, targeted investment is ensured in innovation, digital development and the defence industry.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs also noted that Latvia supports opening all negotiating clusters for EU accession with Ukraine and Moldova as soon as possible.
