Countries with a similar mindset, such as Latvia and the Czech Republic, need to cooperate and consult each other in order to defend their interests on important issues such as the EU’s new multi-annual financial framework. Latvia and the Czech Republic have established successful cooperation within the EU and NATO, and this is supplemented by comprehensive bilateral cooperation. This was confirmed by Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, on Wednesday, 10 October, during her meeting with Petr Nečas, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic.

During the discussion, Āboltiņa emphasised Latvia’s two main interests concerning the EU’s new multi-annual financial framework for 2014 – 2020: maintaining the cohesion funding at least at the current level and securing direct payments to Latvian farmers at a level equal to at least 80% of the average in the EU. The Czech Prime Minister maintained that cohesion funding should not be decreased for the less developed European regions and countries.

The Speaker of the Saeima thanked the Czech Republic for its support in Baltic air policing and pointed out that currently Czech pilots are carrying out this task of the NATO mission.

The Speaker of the Saeima also thanked the Czech Prime Minister for supporting Latvia’s accession to the OECD. “Our country is ready to become a full-fledged member of the OECD in its next wave of enlargement. Through overcoming the crisis and implementing reforms, Latvia has accumulated experience and achieved rapid economic growth; therefore, we are able to contribute to the work of the OECD,” Āboltiņa said.

In discussing economic cooperation between the two countries, Āboltiņa expressed gratification at the increase in trade relations and growth of the mutual trade turnover by 20% compared to last year. In turn, Nečas confirmed the Czech interest in developing closer trade relations with Latvia and expressed his government’s support of Czech business investments in Latvia’s economy. 

On 9 and 10 October, Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, is on an official visit to the Czech Republic on an invitation from Miroslava Němcová, Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic. This is a return visit following Němcová’s official visit to Latvia in April 2011. 

Saeima Press Service