Priorities for Latvia during the Irish Presidency

11.01.2013. 18:03

Horizontal priorities of the Latvian Government

European Union’s Multiannual Financial Framework for 2014-2020

  • Concluding negotiations on the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework for 2014-2020

Economic and monetary union 

  • Preparation for joining the euro area in 2014.
  • Banking Union.
  • Fiscal Compact.
  • Closer coordination of economic policies in the EU.

Growth and jobs

  • Strengthening of the EU Single Market and setting up a Digital Single Market.
  • Implementation of the third European Semester.
  • Transport and energy.
  • Connecting Europe Facility (an instrument for investing in EU infrastructure priorities in Transport, Energy and Telecommunications)
  • Completion of the internal energy market.
  • Energy policy framework after 2020. 

Foreign Policy

European Neighbourhood Policy

  • EU Eastern Partnership

-    Continue sustaining the importance of the Eastern Partnership Road Map with a special focus on its bilateral dimension (the association and economic integration of partner countries).

-    Further negotiations with Moldova and Georgia on the political chapter of the Association Agreements and on establishing a deep and comprehensive free trade area. Continue the work on the 2nd phase of the Action Plan on Visa Liberalisation with Moldova, while launching the 1st phase of the EU-Georgia Action Plan on Visa Liberalisation.

-    Based on Ukraine’s progress in upholding the rule of law, judicial and constitutional reform, the advancement towards signing and ratification of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement and its chapter on a deep and comprehensive free trade.

-    To prevent the isolation of Belarus from the EU, it is important to maintain working relations with Belarusian authorities, including as part of the Eastern Partnership and the European Dialogue on Modernisation.

-    Making progress in the visa dialogue with all the Eastern Partnership countries.

  • Western Balkans

Implementing the decisions taken during the European Council of 13/14 December as regards a further integration into the EU of Kosovo, Serbia, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

Strategic partners

USA

-    Continued efforts towards engaging the interest of the United States in the EU as strategic partner in addressing global issues.

-    Formulation of a joint EU-U.S. position with regard to democratisation processes in the EU’s Eastern partnership countries.

-    Facilitation of a sooner launching of negotiations on the EU-US free trade agreement.

Russia

-    A constructive approach to advancing EU-Russia cooperation, achieving a balanced progress in all the points of agenda

-    It is important that Russia honours commitments undertaken when joining the WTO, as well as a achieving a real advancement in drafting a New EU-Russia Agreement

-    Sustaining an intense dialogue with Russia in various formats on the matters of human rights and the rule of law.

China

-    Development of a balanced dialogue between the EU and China.

-    Advancement towards launching talks on the EU-China Bilateral Investment Protection Agreement.

  • Japan

Facilitation of the EU-Japan cooperation through concluding a Framework Agreement and a Free Trade Agreement.

  • India

Continued work towards the completion of negotiations on and the signing of the EU-India Free Trade Agreement.

EU-Central Asia relations

  • Continued work on the implementation of the EU Strategy for Central Asia and the facilitation of the recently established EU-Central Asia High Level Security Dialogue.
  • Continued work on enhancing cooperation among the Central Asian countries in the security sector, given the developments in Afghanistan.
  • Continued political dialogue between the EU and the Central Asian countries on the topics of transport and transit.
  • Increasing the EU’s involvement in Central Asia by opening a European Union Delegation to Turkmenistan.

Middle East Peace Process (MEPP)

  • Latvia as an EU Member State will continue supporting a balanced policy on the issue of the Middle East Peace Process.
  • Formulating a common EU approach on the MEPP and the statehood of Palestine

Enhancing and strengthening the European External Action Service

  • Reinforcement of the strategy for a medium term and long term Common External and Defence Policy.
  • Achieving a greater EEAS involvement in providing consular assistance to EU nationals.
  • Broader representation of the EU member state diplomats in the EEAS both in headquarters in Brussels and the EU delegations.

Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP)

  • Reinforcement of civilian and military capabilities through a more effective use of resources and structures at the EU’s disposal and by strengthening the EU and NATO cooperation.
  • Closer cooperation of the EU with third countries, in particular, with Eastern neighbours.