On 31 October 2023, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted the annual Forum of European Union Information Providers, which marks its 15th anniversary this year. Participants from across Latvia, online and in person, addressed matters high on the European Union’s agenda with focus on the issue of security, currently of special importance in Europe and across the globe.
In his opening address, the State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Andris Pelšs, highlighted the broad meaning of the concept of security, covering both physical security in the face of an external aggressor, border security, and social and economic security.
“Physical security of the borders of the European Union, which can no longer be taken for granted since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, is essential for the European Union to develop in accordance with values,” the State Secretary said. “We must clearly proclaim: we are capable of defending Latvia, we want to defend Latvia, and we shall do it,” Andis Pelšs reiterated, calling for determination and practical capabilities for defence to be unequivocally declared.
He also noted the invaluable role of providers of EU-related information in promoting the public commitment to firmly protect the common values and security objectives of Latvia and the European Union.
The European Union Information Providers Forum has been organised since 2008 and its marks its 15the anniversary this year. The event is organised twice a year by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in association with the Office of the European Parliament in Latvia and the Representation of the European Commission in Latvia. The forum brings together the providers of EU-related information – EU information contacts at national and local governments, representatives from EU Information Points, and Europe Direct Information Centres, as well as members of the media and civil society organisations.
The participants were also addressed by the Head of the European Commission Representation in Latvia, Zane Petre, and the Head of the European Parliament Liaison Office in Latvia, Marta Rībele. The EU’s economic security was discussed by the Dean of the Faculty of Business, Management and Economics at the University of Latvia, leading researcher Gundars Bērziņš, the Member of the European Parliament, Ivars Ijabs, the President of the Employers Confederation of Latvia, Andris Bite, and the Vice Rector for Innovations at Riga Technical University, Liene Briede. External and internal security was examined by the Director of the Centre for Geopolitical Studies, Vice Rector of Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, Māris Andžāns, the Advisor to the Minister of Defence, Imants Lieģis, the Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior, Igors Rajevs, the Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braže, and the Member of the European Parliament, Dace Melbārde.
The participants of the forum from various regions of Latvia had the opportunity to engage with experts on topics such as solidarity with Ukraine, the EU’s current political priorities, strategic communication and narratives, security issues in relation to the Internet and artificial intelligence, Latvia’s plans in the climate and energy sector, and other matters.
