In 2010, Latvia assumes presidency of Baltic Council of Ministers and will co-ordinate NB-8 foreign ministry co-operation

On 1 January 2010 Latvia took over from Lithuania the rotating presidency within trilateral formats of the Baltic co-operation – the Baltic Assembly and the Baltic Council of Ministers (BCM). Latvia will hold the chairmanship until 31 December 2010.

During this period, the Baltic co-operation will focus on economic stabilisation and the promotion of competitiveness in the region, on security, including energy and environmental aspects, as well as on the enhancement of the Baltic and Nordic co-operation. Latvia's priorities were formulated in association with the sectoral ministries and were discussed at the 15th Session of the Baltic Council in Vilnius in November 2009.

During the Latvian presidency, the work will be continued in the Committees of Senior Officials in the sectors of defence, energy, interior affairs, transport and communications.

In 2001, Latvia will also fulfill the co-ordinator's functions for the co-operation of foreign ministries of the Baltic and Nordic countries. During the year, meetings will be organised at the level of the NB-8 foreign ministers, secretaries of state, political directors, etc.

The Baltic Council of Ministers was established in 1994 as and institution for intergovernmental co-operation between Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia at different levels (heads of the governments, foreign ministers, senior officials from various sectors). The co-ordinating institution of the BMP presidency is the foreign ministry. The Baltic Assembly, established in 1991, is the framework for trilateral parliamentary co-operation, co-ordinated by the Secretariat of the Baltic Assembly.

The role of the co-ordinator for the Baltic and Nordic co-operation (NB-8) right after the restoration of the Baltic states independence was assumed by the country chairing the Nordic Council of Ministers for the year. The foreign ministries of the Baltic states were involved in the NB-8 co-ordination in 2008.

 

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