Foreign Minister and EU Energy Commissioner discuss current EU-related topics

On 9 January, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins and Andris Piebalgs, the European Commissioner for Energy met to discuss topics related to EU energy policy and also the ratification process of the Lisbon Treaty by national parliaments.

Mr  Riekstins told the Commissioner  that once   the signed copy of the Lisbon Treaty is received early next month it will be  submitted to the European Affairs Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Saeima, so that  the ratification procedure could be successfully concluded by the beginning of summer.

 "A successful ratification process in all member states of the European Community is a key precondition for the future functioning of the European Union and consequently the development of the energy policy" the Foreign Minister noted.

Andris Piebalgs is the first European Commissioner to visit the newly-renovated Foreign Ministry building.

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