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Co-operation among the Baltic states is varied and rational. It is based on the common interests and goals of the three states in the areas of foreign and security policy: the advancement of security and welfare, promotion of economic development, participation in the EU and NATO. There is intensive co-operation among the Baltic states on projects within sectors such as energy industry, environmental protection, and transport infrastructure.
During the past fifteen years, the three Baltic states have accumulated valuable experience in carrying out reforms, which they are now making available to other democratically oriented states. Together with Baltic Sea Region states and institutions, they are implementing various projects under the European Neighbourhood Policy.
An active political dialogue is being pursued within the framework of Baltic co-operation among Presidents, parliament speakers, heads of government, and foreign ministers. The Baltic Assembly and the Baltic Council of Ministers provide a significant contribution to the harmonisation of foreign policy and the promotion of practical co-operation among the Baltic states.
Baltic Assembly
The Baltic Assembly (BA) is an institution for parliamentary co-operation among Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania. It was established on 8 November 1991. Each of the Baltic states is represented in the Assembly by 12-20 parliamentarians. The Assembly is a co-ordinating and consultative institution. Baltic Assembly sessions take place once a year. The BA has the right to make its views known to the national parliaments, governments and the Baltic Council of Ministers in the form of a resolution, decision, declaration and recommendation, while using the form of an appeal, proposal, or announcement when addressing other international or regional organizations. Between sessions, the Presidium of the BA may make decisions about current issues.
The Baltic Assembly has five standing committees: Economic Affairs, Communications and Informatics; Education, Science and Culture; Environmental Protection and Energy; Legal Affairs and Security, and Social Affairs. Beginning in 2003, the presidency of the Baltic Assembly was co-ordinated with the Baltic Council of Ministers, and a one-year presidency was introduced. Latvia is fulfilling the responsibilities of presiding state in the BA in 2007.
Baltic Assembly's website: http://www.baltasam.org
Baltic Council of Ministers
The Baltic Council of Ministers (BCM), established on 13 June 1994, is an institution for governmental co-operation among Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. The highest decision-making body of the Baltic Council of Ministers is the Session of the heads of government (Council of Ministers), which takes place at least once a year.
The BCM is charged with ensuring the continuity of co-operation at the executive level of the states. It is responsible for co-operation among the governments of the Baltic states, as well as the co-operation between the governments and the Baltic Assembly. The BCM makes decisions regarding the implementation of recommendations of the Baltic Assembly. It promotes a broad and substantive mutual co-operation. The BCM has decision-making powers only if representatives of all three Baltic states are present. Decisions are made by consensus.
To ensure purposeful activity by the BCM at the level of sector ministries, Committees of Senior Officials were formed in 1994. Until 2004 there were 18 such committees under the auspices of the BCM. Beginning in 2005, their number was reduced to five: Defence, Energy, Home Affairs, Transport and Communications, and Environment committees.
The presidency of the BCM is rotated annually among the Baltic states. In 2007 Latvia is the presiding state.
Latvia's BCM presidency
Basic documents of the BCM:
Co-operation between the Baltic Assembly and the Baltic Council of Ministers
The Baltic Assembly (BA) and the Baltic Council of Ministers (BCM) have agreed on a closer and more effective co-operation. To achieve this, the trilateral agreement on governmental and parliamentary co-operation was amended in 2003, as was the protocol defining specific co-operation mechanisms in 2004. The result was the establishment of the Baltic Council (annual meeting of the BA and BCM), and the Co-operation Council (the meeting of Foreign Ministers of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, in the framework of the Baltic Council).
In accordance with the concluded co-operation agreements, co-operation between the BCM and BA takes place at all levels – at the annual session of the BA, a meeting of the BA Presidium and the Co-operation Council of the BCM is held. At the same time, representatives of BCM Committees of Senior Officials are invited to participate in BA committee sessions and thematic conferences. There is regular co-operation between the Secretariats of the BCM and BA.
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