Press releases on issues relating to the future of the EU
Draft EU Constitutional Treaty submitted to Italian Presidency
21.07.2003.
On 18 July 2003, President of the European Convention Valéry Giscard d'Estaing submitted the draft EU Constitutional Treaty to the President of the European Council, Prime Minister of Italy Silvio Berlusconi. Having prepared the draft Treaty for the forthcoming Intergovernmental Conference, the European Convention has formally concluded its work and fulfilled the mandate of the Laeken European Council.
Final Plenary Meeting of European Convention Held in Brussels
10.07.2003.
From 9 to 10 July 2003, the final plenary meeting of the European Convention was held in Brussels. At the plenary meeting, debates were held on Part III of the draft Constitutional Treaty in relation to EU policies and their implementation, in order to prepare technical amendments to the draft Treaty in accordance with the mandate of the Thessaloniki European Council.
Work of the European Convention on Part I of the Draft Constitutional Treaty Concludes
13.06.2003.
Today, 13 June 2003, marks the conclusion of the European Convention. The Convention has been rated as an even greater success than previous Intergovernmental Conferences. The results achieved on the whole satisfy the interests of all countries. The final draft of the Constitutional Treaty is balanced and takes into account a broad and varied range of interests, among them those of Latvia. The main thing all countries have agreed upon is that the European Union will remain a union of national states. Crucial agreement has also been reached on issues relating to EU institutions.
Meeting of representatives of small countries to the European Convention takes place in Brussels
12.06.2003
On 11 June 2003, a meeting of representatives of governments to the European Convention from the group of small countries took place in Brussels, at which the small countries agreed on a common position concerning issues of European Union institutional reform. The group prepared a list of joint proposals on amendments to the draft Constitutional Treaty. The meeting took place alongside the final plenary session of the Convention.
Plenary session of the European Convention takes place in Brussels
30.05.2003.
From 30 to 31 May 2003, a plenary session of the European Convention is being held in Brussels, at which Minister of Foreign Affairs Ms Sandra Kalniete will represent the Latvian government and Ms Liene Liepina and Mr Rihards Piks will represent the Saeima (Parliament). The current plenary session features debates on the draft EU Constitutional Treaty in its entirety, with attention primarily being focused on articles relating to the Charter of Fundamental Rights and those dealing with EU policies and their implementation.
Latvia's Minister of Foreign Affairs meets with Austrian Federal Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel
28.05.2003
On 28 May 2003, government representatives of eight countries, including Latvia-s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sandra Kalniete, met with the Austrian Federal Chancellor, Wolfgang Schüssel, in Vienna. The meeting brought together government representatives from Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovenia, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Hungary. The meeting participants shared the view that cooperation among the smaller countries has fulfilled all expectations.
Government representatives to the European Convention from the smaller countries meet in Vienna
28.05.2003
From 27 and 28 May 2003 in Vienna, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sandra Kalniete is taking part in a meeting of government representatives to the European Convention from the nine smaller countries, organized by the Austrian government. The meeting will involve an exchange of views on the work of the Convention and on cooperation within the so-called group of the smaller countries.
Latvia's Minister of Foreign Affairs meets with President of the European Convention
16.05.2003.
While in Brussels to attend the European Convention's plenary meeting on 15 May 2003, Latvia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Sandra Kalniete and government representatives of the so-called group of small countries also met with the President of the Convention, Mr Valéry Giscard d'Estaing.
08.05.2003.
On 5 May 2003, representative of the Latvian government to the European Convention, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sandra Kalniete expressed support for the common position of nine EU member and acceding states on necessary amendments to the chapter of the draft EU Constitutional Treaty on "Institutions".
Details of Plenary Meeting of the European Convention, 24-25 April in Brussels
| 24.04.2003. |
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A plenary session of the European Convention is being held from 24-25 April in Brussels. Latvia's representatives to the Convention are Minister of Foreign Affairs Sandra Kalniete, Minister of Transport Roberts Zile, and Saeima Deputies Liene Liepina, Rihards Piks and Guntars Krasts. The plenary meeting features discussion on articles of the draft EU Constitutional Treaty pertaining to democratic life within the EU; EU membership; relations between the EU and its immediate environment; and concluding provisions, which chiefly stipulate procedures for amendment of the Treaty and its entry into force. |
Plenary meeting of the European Convention held in Brussels
03.04.2003
On 3 and 4 April 2003, a plenary meeting of the European Convention is being held in Brussels, where Latvia is represented by a Government representative, Minister of Transport Roberts Zile and members of the Saeima Liene Liepina, Rihards Piks, and Guntars Krasts.
Intersessional Meeting of the European Convention held in Brussels
26.03.2003
On 26 March 2003, an intersessional discussion meeting of the European Convention, chaired by Vice-President of the Convention Mr Jean-Luc Dehaene, was held in Brussels. Such sessions are convened between Plenary Sessions of the Convention to allow for more in-depth discussion of certain aspects of the draft Constitutional Treaty of the European Union. Latvia was represented at the meeting by Saeima deputy and representative to the European Convention Ms Liene Liepina. The meeting involved the continuation of discussions on the definition, aims, fundamental values and citizenship of the European Union.
21.03.2003
On 20 March 2003, representative of the Latvian government to the European Convention, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sandra Kalniete, and her alternate, Minister of Transport Roberts Zile, confirmed their support for the common position of the smaller European Union member and candidate states on reforms to the institutional structure of the EU
Plenary Session of the European Convention Held in Brussels
17.03.2003
On 17 and 18 March 2003, a regular plenary meeting of the European Convention is being held in Brussels, in which Latvia is represented by government representative Roberts Zile and parliamentary representatives Liene Liepina, Rihards Piks, Guntars Krasts, and Krisjanis Karins. Although the course of the plenary meeting has been to a certain extent influenced by international events, the general atmosphere is nevertheless business-like.
12.03.2003
On 11 March 2003, Latvia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Sandra Kalniete met with representative of the Netherlands government to the European Convention, Mr Gijs de Vries in The Hague, the Netherlands. Ms Kalniete and Mr de Vries discussed the situation at the European Convention within the context of the debate on the future of Europe. Both officials agreed that Latvia and the Netherlands hold similar views on issues relating to the future of Europe, and emphasized the necessity of regular exchanges of views in order to better defend common interests, and the need for states to offer each other support.
Visit of Latvia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Sandra Kalniete to the Netherlands
12.03.2003
On 11 March 2003, Latvia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Sandra Kalniete met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, Mr Jaap de Hoop Scheffer in The Hague. The Ministers acknowledged that fruitful cooperation has developed between Latvia and the Netherlands in a wide variety of areas - active political dialogue has been established, economic cooperation is taking place, and there is interaction between local governments in both countries. The Ministers agreed that both countries could work to further deepen cooperation.
08.03.2003
On 8 March 2003, Latvia-s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sandra Kalniete will present a lecture to participants at the Latvian Youth Convention on the Future of Europe, on issues currently being debated at the European Convention and on Latvia-s foreign policy priorities after accession to the European Union.
27.02.2003
27.02.2003
On 27 February, 2003, a regular meeting of representatives to the European Convention from EU member states and candidate countries took place in the lead-up to the plenary session of the European Convention which will be held today and tomorrow. Latvia is represented at both forums by Minister of Foreign Affairs Sandra Kalniete.
27.02.2003
On 27 February 2003 Latvia-s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sandra Kalniete delivered a lecture at the European Policy Centre in Brussels. The lecture is one in a series of presentations organised by the Centre, in which politicians from the future EU member states are invited to express their views on the future of the European Union.
26.02.2003
On 26 February 2003 a meeting of government representatives to the European Convention from the smaller EU member and candidate states was held in Brussels. This was the first time a Latvian government representative to the Convention has been invited to attend such a meeting. The Latvian government was represented by Minister of Foreign Affairs Sandra Kalniete. During the meeting, government representatives discussed the Preliminary Draft Constitutional Treaty of the European Union as formulated by the Convention Presidium.
Regular meeting of government representatives to the European Convention convenes in Brussels
21.02.2003
On 21 February 2003 a regular meeting of government representatives of the EU member and candidate states to the European Convention was held in Brussels. The Latvian government was represented at the meeting by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Sandra Kalniete.
Regular plenary meeting of the European Convention held in Brussels
06.02.2003
In today-s meeting debate will focus on the final report of the working group on a "Social Europe", while tomorrow-s meeting will concern itself with regional aspects of the European Union. The Secretariat of the Convention is today planning to submit for consideration the first articles of the EU-s Constitutional Treaty, which mainly refer to the objectives, values, and division of competencies within the European Union.
Sandra Kalniete Participates in the Convention on the Future of Europe
22.01.2003
On 20-21 January 2003 Latvia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Sandra Kalniete attended the plenary meeting of the Convention on the Future of Europe that was held in Brussels. The discussion at the plenary meeting focused on a central issue: distribution of powers among European institutions.
20.01.2003
12th Plenary Meeting of the European Convention Held in Brussels
09.12.2003
Two representatives from Latvia attended the 12th Plenary Meeting of the European Convention in Brussels on 5-6 December 2002: Minister of Transport Roberts Zile and member of the Saeima Rihards Piks. The plenary session commenced with a speech by European Commission President Romano Prodi, in which he laid out the Commission's vision of the institutional architecture of the European Union of the future.
Latvian Foreign Minister meets with Netherlands European Affairs State Secretary
20.11.2002
On 20 November 2002 the Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sandra Kalniete met with the State Secretary for European Affairs at the Netherlands, Atzo Nicolaï, in Riga on a working visit. The officials discussed matters related to enlargement of the European Union, including latest developments in the concluding phase of Latvia's EU accession negotiations, the anticipated EU enlargement treaty ratification process in Latvia and the Netherlands, results of the EU Brussels Summit, as well as issues related to the future of the European Union.
11th Plenary Session of the European Convention Held in Brussels
11.11.2002
On 7 and 8 November 2002, the 11th Plenary Session of the European Convention was held in Brussels, during which debates took place on the final reports of the "Complementary Competencies" and "Economic Governance" Working Groups, and on the place of social issues in a future EU. During the meeting Convention representatives had the opportunity to express their opinion on the preliminary draft EU Constitutional Treaty presented at the previous session