Latvian and Greek officials underline need to strengthen bilateral dialogue and cooperation on EU level

RIGA - Latvian and Greek officials have underlined the need to strengthen bilateral dialogue and cooperation on the European Union (EU) level, LETA was told at the Latvian Foreign Ministry. 

Greece's Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs, Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, met with Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics (New Unity) and Parliamentary Secretary Zanda Kalnina-Lukasevica during a working visit to Latvia on Tuesday. 

According to the Foreign Ministry, the officials were in agreement concerning the friendly and constructive dialogue in bilateral relations and the need to strengthen business contacts and cooperation in international organizations.

The meeting focused on topics of current importance for the EU. Both parties welcomed the endorsement by the European Commission of the national recovery and resilience plans of Latvia and Greece. They also underlined the importance of close EU-level coordination on Covid-19 related matters. 

The officials stressed the need for promoting a high-quality and focused exchange of views on Europe’s future, putting ideas and interests of EU citizens at the center of the Conference on the Future of Europe.

In a discussion on the future of the Eastern Partnership, Kalnina-Lukasevica underlined that its political significance must be reinforced and sustained. The Eastern Partnership countries should be offered a clear long-term perspective of their closer integration with the EU, she noted.

The diplomats agreed that there is a further need for intensifying dialogue on the topics high on the EU and international agendas and for enhancing bilateral cooperation.

This year marks three decades since the restoration of diplomatic ties between Latvia and Greece, and in 2022 the two countries will celebrate the centenary of their diplomatic relations.