The traditionally friendly and close relations between Latvia and Finland are based on common interests to ensure stability, security and welfare in the Baltic Sea Region and Europe as a whole. Co-operation between both countries is intensive: political dialogue between senior state officials takes place on a regular basis and practical co-operation between sector ministries, local governments and non-government organisations is stable and successful. Mutual contacts between the nations are becoming ever more extensive.

History of Diplomatic Relations 

Finland recognised Latvia's independence de iure on 26 January 1921. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were re-established on 29 August 1991. The Finnish Embassy in Riga was opened on 1 October 1991. Since 28 September 2004, the Ambassador of Finland to Latvia is Pekka Wuoristo. The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Latvia to Finland, since 25 August 2005, is Einars Semanis.

Latvia currently has four Honorary Consuls in Finland: Sture Carlson in the Ã…land Islands, Tapio Aho in Satakuntaa, Kai Holmberg in Kymmenlaakso and Timo Levo Oulu.

Latvia-Finland Bilateral Co-operation

Following Latvia's accession to EU, co-operation with Finland continues, primarily within the context of Baltic Sea Region co-operation programmes, EU initiatives and the Northern Dimension, and also at the sector level, based on already established contacts.

Home Affairs and Justice

On 27 June 1996 an agreement was signed between the Government of the Republic of Latvia and the Government of the Republic of Finland on co-operation in crime prevention. The State Police has developed intensive co-operation with similar organisations in Finland to combat trafficking in drugs and psychotropic substances, credit card forgery and money laundering. With support from Finland, Latvian policemen receive training under a programme for police peace-keeping forces, held annually in Tampere.

Staff of the State Police Dog-Handling Centre are participants in the Baltic Sea States' Co-operation Programme directed by Finland and in the framework of which training of dog handling experts and instructors takes place.

Since 1996 Latvia's State Border Guard has had a successful and mutually beneficial co-operation with the Finnish Border Guard.

The Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, the State Firefighting and Rescue Service, the Prison Administration, the State Forensic Science Bureau and the State Land Service are also co-operating with their counterparts in Finland.

Defence

On 9 June 2001, Latvia and Finland signed an agreement on defence co-operation. Ministries of Defence of both countries have held consultations on such issues as crisis management and mobilisation, co-operation in the area of defence industry, and procurement policy.  It is anticipated that future co-operation between Latvia and Finland will develop in the following areas: consultations and exchange of opinion on the Common European Security and Defence Policy, NATO, environmental protection, civil/military co-operation and mobilisation issues.

Environmental Protection and Regional Development

The Investment Department of the Ministry of Environment co-operates with the Ministry of Environment of Finland within the framework of the Technical Assistance Agreement regarding assistance to the Ministry of Environment in the implementation of projects co-financed by the EU Cohesion Fund and Structural Funds. Due to Finland's support, within the framework of the said agreement more than 70 specialists from the Ministry of Environment and other institutions have been on experience exchange visits to Finland and have acquainted themselves on site with Finnish experience in the implementation of the EU requirements with respect to water management and waste management. In addition regular training programmes are provided for the staff of the Ministry of Environment who are involved in planning and implementation of projects co-financed by EU funds.

Regional co-operation between Latvia and Finland takes place also as part of the VASAB ('Visions and Strategies around the Baltic Sea' - co-operation of ministers of the Baltic Sea Region countries responsible for spatial planning), as well as within INTERREG IIIC (Latvia and Finland have participated in 12 joint projects) and the Baltic Sea Region INTERREG IIIB Programme (63 joint projects).

Culture

Co-operation with Finland covers a broad range of cultural areas: literature, arts, music, archives, cinema, museums and libraries. Several cultural and educational establishments as, e.g. Liepaja Arts School, Riga Dome Choir School, Valmiera Secondary School of Arts, and Riga Design and Arts School co-operate with their Finnish counterparts. Similarly, student and teacher exchange with Finland takes place in the tertiary education establishments of Latvia: the Latvian Academy of Culture and Jazeps Vitols Latvian Academy of Music.

Since 1999, the Rozentals Society headed by philosopher Dr. Marjo Mela is operating in Helsinki.  In turn, the Latvia-Finland Society established in 1998, at the initiative of Anna Zigure and the Rozentals family, is operating in Latvia. It is headed by Atis Rozentals.

Education

Latvia's co-operation with Finland in education and science is regulated by an agreement between the Governments of Latvia and Finland on co-operation in culture, education and science, signed on 10 September 1996.

From a historical perspective, it is co-operation with Finnish scientists that was first to be considered and documented in 1991 after the restoration of Latvia's independence. At the moment two documents signed by the Latvian Academy of Sciences with Finnish research institutions are in force: a memorandum of understanding between the Academy of Finland, the Latvian Council of Science and the Latvian Academy of Sciences (LAS), and a research co-operation agreement between the LAS and the Finnish Academy of Sciences and Letters.

Latvian and Finnish tertiary education institutions actively co-operate within the framework of EU educational and scientific projects. Nearly all of Latvia's public universities and a number of universities established by private persons have co-operation partners in Finland. A number of schools have signed mutual co-operation agreements with Finnish universities of similar nature.

For instance, the University of Latvia has concluded bilateral co-operation agreements with three Finnish universities – of Helsinki, Turku and Joensuu. The Faculty of Modern Languages of the University of Latvia offers a Finno-Ugrian Studies programme. The University of Helsinki teaches Latvian and offers a course of lectures on the culture and history of Latvia.

In the field of education, Finland has provided significant support for the enhancement of the material facilities of the Department of Finno-Ugrian and Nordic Languages at the University of Latvia and the Nordic Gymnasium, as well as for the secondment of Finnish teaching staff to the University of Latvia. Considerable assistance is rendered for the preservation of the Liv language and culture, for Liv language classes at the Riga Estonian Secondary School, and the revitalisation/regeneration of the Liv Coast. The Government of Finland provides methodological and financial support for the implementation of the national programme for the acquisition of the state language.

Welfare, Health

Co-operation with Finnish partners has been developed by institutions such as the National Agency for Health Promotion, the Pauls Stradins Clinical University Hospital, Riga Stradins University (the Chair of Anaesthesiology and Reanimatology, the Institute of Anatomy and Anthropology, the Faculty of Dentistry), the Narcology State Agency, the Centre of Emergency and Disaster Medicine, the State Agency of Sports Medicine, the State Blood Donor Centre, the State Medical Genetics Centre, the children's psychoneurological hospital Ainazi and the AIDS prevention centre.

Local Governments

Multi-faceted co-operation between local authorities of Latvia and Finland is promoted with the support of EU regional development and co-operation programmes (INTERREG). Co-operation agreements have been signed between individual authorities of districts, towns and rural municipalities, resulting in active exchange of experience and information. Co-operation is ongoing in areas such as education, sport, culture, tourism, entrepreneurship, ecology, regional development, social and health care, NGO issues. 

The oldest sister city of Riga is Pori (since 1964). Pori has become a long-term partner in educational, cultural and economic projects, and co-operation also continues in the development of new projects. 

Economic Relations

Economic co-operation between Latvia and Finland is successful. Finland is a significant foreign trade partner for Latvia and trade volumes are increasing year on year.

Trade statistics

(according to data of the Central Statistical Bureau of the Republic of Latvia)

First half of 2008:

For the first half of 2008, Latvia had a negative trade balance with Finland:

-141,685,212 EUR. The balance for 2007 was also negative, at – 333,077,911 EUR.

• Exports:

1. Lithuania – 468, 760,197 EUR or 16.24 % of total exports from Latvia

2. Estonia – 362,588,017 EUR or 12.56 %

3. Russia –312,967,084 EUR or 10.84 %

4. Germany – 250,705,977 EUR or 8.68 %

5. Sweden – 209,495,056 EUR or 7,26 %

âÀ¦.

9. Finland – 87,651,391 EUR or 3.04%

• Imports:

1. Lithuania – 744,722,788 EUR or 25.80 % of total imports to Latvia

2. Germany – 636,044,174 EUR or 22.03 %

3. Russia – 525,418,285 EUR or 18.20 %

4. Estonia – 335,546,838 EUR or 11.62 %

5. Poland – 312,417,009 EUR or 10.82%

âÀ¦.

6. Finland – 229,336,603 EUR or 7,94%

 Main exports from Finland by type of goods, 2008 Q2, million EUR

Main imports from Finland by type of goods in 2008 Q2, million EUR

Trade dynamics between Latvia and Finland for the period of 2002-2007, million EUR

Trade dynamics between Latvia and Finland for the period of 2002-2007, million EUR

Finland's direct investment in Latvia

Finland is the fifth largest investor country in Latvia. At the end of the first quarter of 2008, Finnish direct investments amounted to 336.9 million LVL (source: The Bank of Latvia). The major part of investments has been made in the wholesale and retail trade sector (39%).

Balance of foreign direct investment in Latvia (positions) at the end of 1st quarter of 2008:

As of 15 April 2008, 365 Finnish - Latvian joint companies were listed with the Register of Enterprises of the Republic of Latvia (9^th place). The ten largest Finnish investors in equity of companies registered in Latvia, in million LVL, are:

1. YIT Construction Ltd. (100% of SIA "YIT celtniecÄ«ba") – 9.43
2. maxit Oy (100% of SIA "Maxit") – 7.00
3. Fazer Bakeries (100% of SIA "Fazer maiznÄ«cas") – 4.68
4. Maatalouskesko Oy (100% of "Kesko Agro Latvija") - 4.63
5. Stora Enso Oyj (100% of SIA "Stora Enso mežs") - 4.00
6. Rautakirja Oy (50% of "Narvesen Baltija" and 37% of "Stockmann Centrs") - 3.80
7. Consolis Oy Ab (100% of SIA "Consolis Latvija", construction) - 3.13
8. Metsaliitto Cooperative (100% of SIA "Metsaliitto Latvia", forestry) – 2,78
9. Ramirent Europe Oy (100% of SIA "Ramiteh", 100% of SIA "Ramirent") - 2.63
10. OY Rudus Ab (100% SIA "Rudus") – 2,51

Important mutual visits during recent years

Visits of Latvian officials to Finland:

Visits by Finnish officials to Latvia:

Links to Finland

General information on Finland http://www.virtual.finland.fi

President: http://www.president.fi

Parliament: http://www.eduskunta.fi

Government: http://www.governmet.fi

Ministry of Foreign Affairs: http://www.formin.fi

Embassy of Finland in Riga: http://www.finland.lv

Tourism information centre: http://www.mek.fi