The Baltic and Nordic states share a common identity of cultural history, politics and economics. The intensification of co-operation among the eight states attests to their common values and goals, and promotes the increased significance of the Northern European region in the context of Europe and the world.

The co-operation of Baltic and Nordic states is intensive at the most diverse levels. The political dialogue has become traditional: there are regular meetings of Baltic and Nordic state Prime Ministers, Foreign Ministers and political directors of Foreign Ministries. In the parliamentary co-operation of Baltic and Nordic states, of particular significance are the mutual contacts between the institutional organizations – the Baltic Assembly and the Nordic Council. While continuing to develop co-operation with the Nordic states, it is important for Latvia to promote mutual contacts among people, to support co-operation among local governments and academic, professional and non-governmental organizations, educational institutions, as well as to develop tourism and to expand economic relations.

Nordic Council

The Nordic Council (NC) is an organization for parliamentary co-operation among the Nordic states, which unites the parliamentary delegates of the five Nordic states (Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Finland and Sweden) and three autonomous territories (Aland Islands, Faeroe Islands and Greenland). The NC comprises 87 deputies who are appointed by the parliaments of their respective states in accordance with the representation of political parties in parliament. Representatives of national governments also participate, with the right to participate in discussions and to make presentations, but without voting rights.

Each calendar year one Nordic state presides at the NC. The order of presiding states is as follows: Iceland, Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. Finland is the presiding state in 2006. It is customary to have the presiding state at the Nordic Council of Ministers preside at the NC the following year.

The NC performs its work in sessions, as well as at thematic conferences that are directly related to co-operation among the Nordic states. The regular session takes place once a year, usually in November. The NC has a permanent secretariat located in Copenhagen.

The NC and BA agreed on co-operation in 1992. Until now there have been five meetings of the two organizations. Future plans call for annual meetings of the BA and NC presidiums, with the participation of leaders of the joint committees, as well as thematic meetings and joint committee conferences. There is active co-operation among parliaments and their standing commissions. Meetings of the heads of foreign affairs commissions of Baltic and Nordic parliaments are held on a regular basis.

BA website: http://www.baltasam.org

NC website: http://www.norden.org

Nordic Council of Ministers

The Nordic Council of Ministers (NCM), being an institution which encompasses co-operation among Nordic Ministries of all sectors, plays a major role in the practical co-operation among the Baltic and Nordic states. The common responsibility for NCM work rests with the Nordic Prime Ministers, but in practice the NCM work is co-ordinated in each state by a designated Co-operation Minister.

The presiding order in the NCM is the same as in the NC. Finland is the presiding state in the NCM for 2007.

Co-operation of Latvia's sector ministries with Nordic states is carried out in co-ordination with NCM activities. For example, Latvian officials participate in NCM working groups, meetings, seminars and conferences, and Latvian institutions develop joint projects with the NCM.

An important step in the intensification of practical co-operation was the decision of Nordic states to invite the three Baltic states to join the Nordic Investment Bank (NIB). Since 2005 Latvia is a full member of NIB.

The year 2006 marked the fifteenth anniversary of the opening of an NCM information bureau in Latvia. Thanks to its pro-active approach, large numbers of Latvian youth and students have acquired knowledge of Nordic languages. Members of the creative professions have received scholarships to help them fulfil their aspirations. Also, politicians, local government employees, entrepreneurs, and civil servants have acquired opportunities for experience exchange. With support of the NCM, many schools and institutions of higher education in Latvia, as well as non-governmental organizations, have found co-operation partners in the Nordic states.

NCM website: http://www.norden.org

NCM Bureau in Riga website: http://www.norden.lv