Baltic States – CIS, Education and Science, EU – Baltic States, Latvia, Legislation

Edgars Rinkevics and Didier Burkhalter. Bern, 15.01.2015. Photo: flickr.com

Edgars Rinkevics highly appreciated the activities of Switzerland during its chairmanship of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OCSE) last year and commended Switzerland and its Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter for their role in addressing the crisis in Ukraine. The Minister welcomed Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga’s participation in the Panel of Eminent Persons on European Security as a Common Project dealing with the OCSE future.

Edgars Rinkevics emphasised the importance of the EU relations with Switzerland and noted that Latvia will promote their development during its Presidency of the Council of the EU. The Minister asserted that Switzerland is a major partner to the European Union and therefore, it is important that the talks on the inter-institutional framework for Swiss-EU relations be continued in order to reach a mutually acceptable agreement. The Latvian Foreign Minister also heard the Swiss perspective on the decision to restrict immigration made as the result of a referendum in Switzerland in February 2014. Edgars Rinkevics said that the will of the people of Switzerland should be respected. At the same time, it should be emphasised that free movement of labour is one of the fundamental principles of the EU, and a solution should be sought within the current agreements between the EU and Switzerland. The Minister pointed out that Latvia, during its Presidency of the Council of the EU, will spare no effort to work on a solution acceptable to both parties.

In regard to bilateral relations between Latvia and Switzerland, Edgars Rinkevics and Didier Burkhalter concurred that both countries cooperate successfully. The Latvian Foreign Minister thanked Switzerland for its support for Latvia in the development of the vocational education sector, and highlighted the successful implementation of the Latvian-Swiss Cooperation Programme providing financial assistance. Minister Rinkevics expressed hope that the cooperation will be continued. Minister Rinkevics thanked the Swiss minister for support offered to Latvia in advance of accession to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Edgars Rinkevics outlined Latvia's priorities for its Presidency of the Council of the EU, the EU Eastern Partnership initiative and the Riga Summit. The Minister suggested that Switzerland might take part in joint projects with the Eastern Partnership countries. As the Ministers discussed the resolution of the Ukrainian crisis, the Latvian Foreign Minister emphasised the importance of the Minsk agreements in de-escalation of the situation.

Edgars Rinkevics also took part in the opening of the seminar, Eastern Partnership Policy – the Way Forward to a Secure and Prosperous Europe, in Bern.

At the seminar, Edgars Rinkevics presented Latvia's priorities for its Presidency and emphasised the significance of the EU's Eastern Partnership initiative and the Riga Summit. The Minister outlined the events that Latvia intends to organise in order to promote the relations between the EU and Central Asian countries. Edgars Rinkevics also highlighted the resolution of the Ukrainian crisis and urged to assist Ukraine with the implementation of reforms.

The seminar is organised by the Embassy of Latvia in Austria in association with the EU Delegation to Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Other Latvian participants include Juris Poikans, Latvia’s Ambassador-at-Large for the Eastern Partnership and Dr. Toms Rostoks, a foreign policy expert and Associate Professor at the University of Latvia. Ambassador Henri Getaz, the Head of the European Affairs Directorate of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland also attended the seminar.