Baltic States – CIS, EU – Baltic States, Forum, Latvia, Legislation

"The Riga Summit will take place in difficult geopolitical circumstances; therefore, it is important that the European Union send a strong signal that the Eastern Partnership has a long-term strategy and will continue evolving. The high-level political participation at the summit in Riga by EU and Eastern Partnership countries will confirm their commitment to keep the Eastern Partnership high on the EU's external relations agenda also in future," Edgars Rinkevics said.

The Foreign Minister said he was certain that the Riga Summit should present a clear vision of the development of the Eastern Partnership policy aimed at the building of bilateral relations and strengthening of multilateral cooperation.

Edgars Rinkevics said that the keyword for the Eastern Partnership is differentiation, which reconfirms engagement in the Eastern Partnership and the development of individualised relationships with all partner countries. The European Union should pledge cooperation with partner countries which do not have Association Agreements, agree on the areas and legal framework for cooperation with Azerbaijan and strengthen bilateral relations with Belarus.

The Minister drew attention to the Association Agreements as the core of the Eastern Partnership. "We hope that the Association Agreements will be ratified in the majority of the European Union Member States before the Riga Summit. It is of equal importance that a strong message is sent to communities in the partner countries; therefore, the declaration should include proposals from all the Eastern Partnership countries," Edgars Rinkevics asserted.

Edgars Rinkevics accented the importance of enhancing business contacts between the EU and Eastern Partnership countries in various sectors such as energy, trade, digital economy and environment. This would also strengthen the regional context of the relations between the EU and its partner countries.

"The goals of the Riga Summit may be ambitious, but the wording and aspirations of the Riga Declaration must be realistic and practical," Edgars Rinkevics said in conclusion.