Analytics, EU – Baltic States, Financial Services, Latvia, Legislation

Michael Higgins and Andris Berzins. Dublin, 13.02.2013. Photo: president.lv

Berzins met with Irish President Michael Higgins and Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny to discuss bilateral relations and the latest developments in the EU. The Irish officials also expressed strong support for Latvia's efforts to join the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

Latvia became an EU member state during Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union. There is no reason for Latvia not to receive positive decisions regarding the eurozone and the OECD during Ireland's current presidency, emphasized Berzins, thanking Ireland for its support to date.

Assessing Ireland's EU membership, which began in 1973, the Irish officials admitted that it has been a positive experience that has given a number of advantages to the country, including evening out the standard of living.

At the same time, Ireland, just like Latvia, had to turn to international lenders due to the country's budget deficit and considerable liabilities. In 2010, Ireland turned to the EU and the International Monetary Fund, which allotted EUR 85 billion (LVL 60 billion) to the country.

Berzins and Higgins agreed on the importance of cooperation among small EU countries in the bloc's future, emphasizing several geopolitical and historical similarities between both countries.

The sides also agreed on the significance of small countries' basic values, including languages and their preservation. The Irish president noted that the Irish language, which gradually disappeared from everyday use due to globalization, is currently among the bloc's official languages, being taught in schools and spoken on television and radio channels.

In regard to the EU's future prospects, the officials agreed that Europe must not be divided into weak and strong countries and warned that such an approach could cost the bloc dearly. They also recommended the EU to expand cooperation with Europe's neighbors – Eastern Partnership countries, Central Asia and Turkey.

The Latvian president also invited Ireland's highest officials to visit Latvia in 2014, when Riga will be the European Capital of Culture.