On 23-24 September, the 4^th Congress of the Latvia–Lithuania Forum will be held in Riga and Dobele with the aim of evaluating, and providing a future perspective for the two Baltic peoples' co-operation. The congress is devoted to the Baltic Unity Day, celebrated yearly on 22 September.

On 23 September at the European Union House in Riga, a round table discussion Latvia, Lithuania: The mission, perspectives and challenges of a nation-state where scientists and researchers from Latvia and Lithuania will discuss the problems of national states under the changing historical, economical, and socio-cultural circumstances. The discussion will focus both on the plans and ideals that characterized the time when the two national states, Latvia and Lithuania, were formed, and on the reality they encountered. The following issues will be debated: relations between national and transnational entities; the place of culture under the globalisation of the economy; Panbaltism; the aspects of the national identity; ethno-culture; ethno-economy; and development from an ethnical nation into a political nation. Other topics raised for discussion will be development directions for the Latvian and Lithuanian studies.

Taking part in the discussions are Chairman of the Senate of the Academy of Sciences of Latvia Jānis Stradiņš, professors of the University of Latvia Janīna Kursīte and Maija Kūle, as well as Chairman of the President of Latvia Strategic Analysis Commission, social anthropologist Roberts Ķīlis. Lithuania will be represented in the discussion by Lithuanian literature and folklore expert Darius Kolis, a representative from the Culture, Philosophy and Art Institute Rita Repšienė, and Dean of the Faculty of History at Vilnius University, Zenonas Butkus. The discussion will be moderated by Associated Professor of the Latvian and Baltic Studies Department at the University of Latvia Valdis Muktupāvels.

On the second day of the Congress, on 24 September, a conference Cooperation Perspectives for Neighbouring Countries will be held in Dobele Culture Centre; the event is devoted to the evaluation of the cooperation and exchange of experience between Latvia and Lithuania. In the first session of the conference, lecturer from the Riga Stradiņš University Lelde Metla-Rozentāle, and Lithuanian historian Vilma Akmenytė-Ruzgienė will analyse development tendencies in both countries, whereas Mr Krišjānis Kariņš, Member of the European Parliament will introduce the European Union Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region and the opportunities it offers. Representatives from the Latvia–Lithuania Cross Border Cooperation Programme will present the implemented projects that have been part of this programme, tell about the impact of these projects on the development of the border areas, as well as give information on future calls for applications. The participants will have an opportunity to gain inspiration for new ideas when visiting the project market and Dobele Crafts Centre - one of the projects implemented under this programme.

The 4^th Congress of Latvia–Lithuania Forum is organized by the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia, the Ministry of Regional Development and Local Government of Latvia, the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania, the Joint Technical Secretariat of the Latvia–Lithuania Programme in cooperation with the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania, and the Latvia and Lithuania Forum Association.

The Latvia – Lithuania Forum is a discussion platform on the Baltic identity where the academic staff of both countries and representatives from different fields, such as culture, art, press, etc. are invited to take part in a discussion on the cooperation between the two countries to date, and to seek new solutions to challenges brought up by the 21^st century.

Further information on the events held under the 4^th Congress of the Latvia – Lithuania Forum is accessible on the Foreign Ministry website, on the website of the Latvia–Lithuania Forum Association, and on the website of the Joint Technical Secretariat of the Latvia–Lithuania Programme.