Closer integration called for in Vihula

RIGA - Latvian Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis, speaking at an informal meeting of the Baltic Council of Ministers in Vihula, Estonia, on Feb. 11, emphasized that the promotion of innovations, a knowledge-based economy and a single digital market provides a practical opportunity for closer cooperation between the Baltic States, reports news agency LETA. Dombrovskis mentioned that Latvia is open and interested in more practical cooperation between the Baltic States by developing joint cooperation projects, for example by strengthening the innovation potential and by promoting the development of different cooperation networks at the level of the Baltic Sea region.

The prime minister also said that Latvia is interested in continued cooperation with the Lithuanian and Estonian partners in the leading cross-border program ‘Innovation, Cluster and SME Networks of the Baltic Sea Region,’ implemented within the framework of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region.

Dombrovskis discussed Latvia’s interest in strengthening the single EU market and development of an effective single digital market. Latvia has stated that the single digital market is one of its major priorities, also in the context of the European Commission’s communication ‘Towards a Single Market Act,’ he said.

Emphasis was placed on the development of the digital market, where Dombrovskis added that this largely depends on the users’ trust in the digital environment and cross-border transactions in the digital environment. Therefore, in order to strengthen the users’ trust in these areas it is necessary to develop and promote cross-border cooperation in detection of cybercrimes, in the area of personal data protection related offences, prevention of undesirable communications and commercial information, protection of consumer interests and rights as regards the cross-border transactions in the digital environment, as well as cooperation among the copyright experts in the area of the digital environment.

Discussing the current developments in the area of energy, Dombrovskis emphasized that the cooperation between the Baltic States in the area of energy is directed towards ensuring high level security of energy supplies, effective use of energy, market liberalization and reduction of the impact of energy on the environment.
The Baltic prime ministers positively assessed the agreement that was reached during the last European Council on the allocation of the European Union’s co-financing for the gas terminal project. Dombrovskis pointed to the fact that the construction of the LNG terminal in Latvia would improve the security of energy supply in the Baltic region providing for diversification of gas supplies.

Within the framework of the Baltic Council of Ministers, a meeting of the Baltic prime ministers and Olli Rehn, commissioner of the European Commission for Economic and Monetary Affairs, was held to discuss the economic situation in the Baltic region.

The meeting of the Baltic Council of Ministers was organized by Estonia within the framework of its presidency of the Baltic Council of Ministers in 2011. The Baltic Council of Ministers is an institution for intergovernmental cooperation between Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. It was established on June 13, 1994. The Council is responsible for continuous cooperation at the countries’ executive level.