Baltic States – CIS, EU – Baltic States, Latvia, Legislation, Markets and Companies

Roberto Azevedo and Laimdota Straujuma. Riga, 24.03.2015. Photo: flickr.com

L.Straujuma expressed gratitude to Roberto Azevedo for finding the opportunity to visit Latvia and meet the EU ministers for trade in order to discuss current international trade issues on the agenda.

The Prime Minister pointed out that Latvia has been a full-fledged member of the World Trade Organization since 1999, and the membership in this organization has provided many opportunities for Latvia to participate in international trade.

At the meeting, discussing the current issues on the WTO's agenda, the officials addressed the Doha Round and the opportunity to complete it as soon as possible, preferably before the WTO's 10th Ministerial Conference to be held in Nairobi in December this year. The Prime Minister welcomed the decisions adopted at the WTO's Ninth Ministerial Conference in Bali.

The WTO Director-General highly appreciated the progress of the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, noting that Latvia purposefully directs the issues on the presidency's agenda. L.Straujuma presented in more detail the priority issues of the Latvian Presidency to R. Azevedo, including the forthcoming Eastern Partnership Summit in Rīga in May this year.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the WTO Director-General expressed his appreciation to Latvia for active representation of women in various areas of life, incl. in managerial positions.