Priorities of Latvia during the Lithuanian Presidency
of the Council of the European Union
Second half of 2013
Horizontal priorities of the Government of Latvia
Stability and deepening of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU)
Latvia’s accession to the euro zone
The strategic objective of Latvia is to adopt the euro on 1 January 2014.
Issues of deepening the EMU:
- Banking Union
- Economic and fiscal framework
- Social dimension
Latvia supports the roadmap to complete the EMU approved by the European Council on 27 and 28 June
Democratic legitimacy
In the opinion of Latvia, national parliaments should retain a key role in ensuring democratic representation.
Growth and employment
Single Market, including energy
Promotion of employment
Latvia supports the completion of the Single Market Act I and the Single Market Act II initiatives, emphasising this as the main driving force behind economic and employment growth. The focus should be placed on youth unemployment.
Taxes
Efficient tax collection
Latvia supports continued efforts at the EU level to fight aggressive tax planning, tax evasion and tax fraud.
Latvia's priorities at the Foreign Affairs Council
European Neighbourhood Policy
EU Eastern Partnership
- Continue supporting the process of political rapprochement and economic integration with the EU by the Eastern Partnership countries.
- Stand up for achieving significant results at the Eastern Partnership Summit to be held in Vilnius on 28 and 29 November 2013.
- Direct attention to the issue of signing the Association Agreement with Ukraine and initialling agreements with Moldova, Georgia and Armenia, as well as a further course towards visa policy liberalisation.
- Stimulate discussion on the development of the Eastern Partnership in the wake of the Vilnius Summit.
- Support efforts to improve EU-Belarus relations.
Western Balkans
- Latvia supports the decision made by the European Council of 27-28 June on launching EU accession negotiations with Serbia not later than January 2014 and starting negotiations on signing the EU Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Kosovo. Latvia also supports opening new chapters in EU accession negotiations with Turkey and Montenegro during Lithuanian Presidency.
Strategic partners
The USA
- Continue efforts on sustaining U.S. interest in the EU as a strategic partner in dealing with global issues
- Promote a closer coordination of the EU-U.S. cooperation under crisis situations in third countries
- The EU-U.S. negotiating mandate for the transatlantic trade and investment partnership (TTIP) has been approved in 2013; as regards negotiations, Latvia is interested in the reduction of tariffs and, in particular, in the unification of regulatory standards, which will enable easier access to US market for Latvian entrepreneurs. At the same time, retaining certain restrictions in the audio-visual sector should be supported along with respect for EU standards and strong control over the labelling of genetically modified organisms.
The Russian Federation
- Follow up on Russia's compliance with its obligations to the WTO
- In the energy sector, to pursue an approach that all market actors in the European Union should operate in compliance with the rules of the EU's internal energy market. In Latvia's case, continue the implementation the Third Energy Package in view of reservations applied to Latvia.
EU-Central Asia relations
- Take forward the EU-Central Asia dialogue, incl. as part of the implementation of the EU Strategy for Central Asia
- The region's security and stability is the main task; it is also a significant prerequisite for the regional transit connection, including to Afghanistan, China, India and Pakistan
The external dimension of the EU Energy Policy
- Latvia supports the strengthening of internal coordination within the EU, to speak with one voice in the EU's international energy policy and relations with third countries
- Latvia believes that it is important for the EU to continue efforts on the diversification of energy resource supply sources, notably, those of natural gas, thus strengthening the EU's energy security and competitiveness in the energy market.
The EU's Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP)
- During its Presidency, Lithuania intends to continue working on preparations for the European Council of December 2013. Latvia wishes to achieve that the European Council engages in a broader discussion on the strategic perspective of the further development of the CSDP, the forms of military cooperation among member states and the enhancement of the EU's civilian and military capabilities, which would complement NATO capabilities.
In the context of future for European military industry and market, it is important that Latvia retains the most efficient solutions of its national defence and promotes the competitiveness in the EU market of Latvian manufacturers involved in security and defence sector, safeguarding their access to the EU defence industry supply chains.
The EU cooperation with third countries in the CSDP matters will remain a major priority, especially with Eastern partnership states, in the areas such as CSDP crisis management and capability development, their potential involvement in the EU missions and operations, as well as carrying out defence security reforms.