EU – Baltic States, Forum, Latvia, Legislation

Satu Mattila.

Ms Mattila already has considerable experience working on Baltic Sea Region issues. She has been head of the Regional Cooperation Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland and was in charge of the Finnish Presidency activities in the Baltic Sea States Council.

The Latvian Foreign Ministry is also having consultations with other EU member states, such as Germany, France, and Luxembourg, on seconding experts for the Latvian Presidency. Experts appointed by those countries are soon expected to arrive in Riga. The secondment of experts to a state during the EU Presidency is common practice and Latvia is also taking advantage of the tradition. For instance, a Latvian diplomat is currently working at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Expenses for an expert are covered by the sending state, while work assignments and instructions are given by the state hosting the expert. The presence of experts during the Presidency has mutual benefits and advantages, making it possible to share experience and knowledge, and providing an opportunity to become familiar with various solutions to organisational issues to be faced when running the Presidency.