- Strengthened energy security and solidarity in Europe as presented by the European Commission in the 2nd Strategic Energy Review: EU Energy Security and Solidarity Action Plan, published in November 2008.
- Work on the Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan in order to develop the energy infrastructure in the Baltic Sea region.
- Strengthening of a dialogue between the EU and transit and supplier countries of energy resources by using the EU instruments of external relations and cooperation: European Neighbourhood Policy, Eastern Partnership, Baku process, Energy Community.
EU Eastern Neighbours and Relations with Central Asia
- Approval of the concept and beginning of implementation of the Eastern Partnership.
- Continuation of the EU involvement in Georgia (Geneva process; improving the security situation; support to the reconstruction of Georgia) and dialogue with Russia on conflict resolution in the region.
- Launching negotiations with Georgia on EU-Georgia visa facilitation agreement and readmission agreement. Adoption of the decision to start negotiations on establishing a deep and comprehensive free trade area with Georgia.
- Further negotiations on the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement with the aim to reach an agreement on the text as soon as possible.
- Approval of the EU negotiating mandate on a new enhanced EU-Moldova Agreement; starting negotiations. Conduction of a feasibility study on establishing a deep and comprehensive free trade area with Moldova.
- Dialogue with Belarus in order to facilitate democratic changes.
- Further implementation of the EU Strategy for Central Asia by putting the established initiatives into practice and facilitating political dialogue with the countries of Central Asia. Latvia coordinates the implementation of the Education Initiative in Uzbekistan.
Transatlantic Relationship
- Continuation of the strategic dialogue between the EU and the US. With the changes in the US administration, ensuring the continuity of the decisions adopted within the transatlantic dialogue and maintaining the positive dynamics of the recent years.
- Co-ordination of positions of the EU and the US towards Russia; further dialogue and co-operation regarding the processes in the Eastern neighbourhood of the EU and Central Asia.
- Work of Transatlantic Economic Council (TEC), the strengthening of the existing economic initiatives and providing the basis for more integrated transatlantic economy. Continuity of the TEC-process with the incoming US administration.
- Stronger co-operation in regional issues, especially in relation to Afghanistan and Iraq, processes of democratisation, peace and stability in the world (Middle East Peace Process, Burma, and Cuba).
Institutional Issues
- Continuation of the Lisbon Treaty ratification process in Member States to enable its coming into force by the end of 2009, as agreed by the European Council of December 2008.
- Search for a solution that would exclude the creation of a 'multi-speed Europe' and fragmentation of the EU.
- Launching a discussion (after the elections of the European Parliament in June 2009) on the appointment of the future European Commission, and in particular on its President, in order to reach an agreement by the end of the mandate of the current European Commission (November 2009).
The EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region
- Priorities of Latvia for the Baltic Sea Strategy: energy; competitiveness; education, research and culture; environment; civil security. Projects included in the Action Plan of the Strategy - vital for fostering sustainable development and competitiveness of Latvia and the whole region.
- Effective use and streamlining of the existing EU financial resources for the activities in the Baltic Sea Region.
- Northern Dimension as appropriate framework for non-EU countries to be involved in the implementation of the Strategy.
- Results-oriented Strategy. Regular review of progress in order to ensure its implementation. Central role of the European Commission in the monitoring of implementation.
EU – Russia Relations
- Further implementation of the EU-Russia common strategy on border crossing issues and strengthening of the EU – Russia common border.
- Transparent and based on the principle of reciprocity cooperation with Russia on energy matters.
- Constructive and balanced EU – Russia consultations on human rights.
- Ensuring the transparency of the negotiation process on the new EU – Russia agreement.
- With regard to Russia's accession to the WTO, search for a compromise on the remaining outstanding issues important to Latvia: export duties for timber and Russia's discriminatory application of railway tariffs.
Global Challenges
- Coordinated global action to restore the smooth operation of the global financial system and to facilitate the recovery of the world economy; work on a more effective regulation of financial markets and better global governance.
- Continuation of negotiations on further trade liberalisation in the world both multilaterally (the World Trade Organisation Doha Development Round) and bilaterally (trade agreements). Free and open world trade policy would help to mitigate the consequences of the economic recession caused by the global financial crisis.
EU Enlargement and Western Balkans
- Final stage of the Accession negotiations with Croatia with a view to open all negotiations' chapters and to close as many as possible. Continuation of the accession negotiations with Turkey.
- The implementation of the EU policy towards Western Balkan countries: the entry into force of the Stabilisation and Association agreements with Albania and Montenegro and gradual implementation of these agreements with Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina; the participation of the Western Balkan countries in the EU agencies; the assessment of progress in meeting criteria for the visa free regime as set up in the Commission's "road maps" for each country; the discussion among the EU member states on granting the candidate status for Montenegro and possibly for other potential candidate countries.
European Security and Defence Policy
- Expansion of the EU monitoring mission throughout the territory of Georgia according to the mandate, as it can play a significant role in the conflict resolution between Georgia and Russia.
- Enhancement of operational capabilities of the EU mission EULEX Kosovo.
- Further expansion of the EU mission EUPOL Afghanistan, the cooperation and coordination of activities with the UN, US, NATO and other international partners and NGOs.
- Enhancement of the EU and NATO cooperation in military capabilities by improving the exchange of information within the EU-NATO capability group. Establishment of a joint high level group.
- Improvement of the EU and NATO strategic cooperation in operations where both organizations are involved, especially, in Afghanistan and Kosovo.
- Further development of the EU civilian capabilities according to the Civilian Headline Goal 2010.
- Continuation of discussions launched by the French Presidency regarding the consolidation of the civilian and military structures; focus on practical aspects of the implementation of this initiative.
Development Cooperation Policy
- Focus on the eastern dimension in the development cooperation policy with particular emphasis on the contribution of the new EU Member States to this matter.
- Access to sustainable energy resources at the local level as an important precondition for meeting Millennium Development Goals.
- Promotion of democratic governance and the role of civic society (one of the priority issues in Latvia's bilateral development cooperation policy).
- Facilitating the coherence of policies to ensure that the objectives of development cooperation policy are in accordance with other policies.