Latvian Foreign Minister, Artis Pabriks, meets with the Foreign Minister of Finland, Erkki Tuomioja [30 Jun 2005]

On 30 June 2005 during a working visit to Finland, the Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Artis Pabriks, met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland, Erkki Tuomioja.

The ministers discussed the current issues of the EU. On the EU Constitutional Treaty, the ministers exchanged their views on the ratification process in the EU member states and agreed that heads of state should carefully analyse and consider the current situation without exaggerating the impact of this situation on the future development of the EU.

The officials agreed that discussions on the EU financial perspective for 2007-2013 (budget for the given period of time) marked the different positions of the member states on the EU policy priorities and economic development models, emphasizing, however, that Europe cannot be said to be facing a deep crisis. The foreign ministers emphasized the need to proceed with the negotiations actively and come to an agreement on the EU budgetary issues during the UK presidency of the EU.

The Latvian foreign minister and his Finnish colleague debated on the priorities of Finland's presidency of the EU in the second half of 2006. Both officials noted the role of the EU foreign policy in strengthening the international positions and influence of the European Union.

Attention at the meeting was also devoted to the development of the Baltic Sea region, and to the significant role of the co-operation within regional organizations in developing common positions in the EU and international organizations.

Finland voiced its support to Mr Pabriks for expanding the network of Latvian representations abroad. The ministers agreed to discuss in the near future the prospect of sending a Latvian diplomat to work in an Embassy of Finland abroad. In this regard, the Latvian foreign minister noted the co-operation agreement recently concluded between Latvia and Spain, which provides for one position for a Latvian diplomat in the Spanish Embassy to Mexico.

Both ministers also discussed the relations between the EU and Russia, and the EU Neighbourhood Policy.

(end of text)