Written by Vilma Karvelyte, Ilze Eglite and Evarts Anosovs
Every 6 months, on a rotating schedule, one European Union (EU) Member State leads the work of the Council of the EU. This year, Latvia will assume the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the first time, taking over from Italy on 1 January 2015 and passing the Presidency to the final trio partner, Luxembourg, on 30 June 2015. The Declaration of Cooperation between the Parliaments of Italy, Latvia and Luxembourg in support of the preparation and fulfilment of the parliamentary dimension of the Presidencies of these three EU Member States was signed on 7 April 2014.
The main priority areas of the Latvian Presidency’s six month programme will be: 1) EU competitiveness and growth; 2) using Europe’s digital potential to boost smart, sustainable and inclusive growth for the EU; and 3) strengthening the EU’s role as a global actor. Further information on the upcoming Latvian Presidency’s priorities can be found on the Presidency website .
This Trio Presidency of the Council marks the start of the 2014-2019 European Parliamentary Legislature which means that, aside from the major strategic items, the bulk of the legislative work of the Latvian Presidency will consist essentially of resuming unfinished business from the previous legislature.
Overviews
Latvian Presidency – official website: eu2015.lv/
This website provides the latest news from the Latvian Presidency, including live broadcasts of events and practical information, together with key facts on Latvia.
Main legislative issues for the Latvian presidency of the Council / Boytha Dora, EPRS on behalf of Office of the Deputy Secretary-General, 12 December 2014, 7 pages
This briefing note presents the main political dossiers under the Latvian Presidency priorities, and the related European legislative activity expected during the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the EU in the first semester of 2015.
The Latvian EU Presidency: Beyond Window Dressing / Karolina Borońska-Hryniewiecka, Kinga Dudzińska, Bulletin of the Polish Institute of International Affairs, No. 2 (734), 5 January 2015, 2 pages
This publication gives a short overview of the priorities of the upcoming Latvian Presidency and discusses difficult issues from a Polish perspective.
Latvia’s priorities for the Council Presidency / Ilze Juhansone, European Policy Centre, 21 November 2014, 3 pages
This briefing note prepared by the Permanent Representative of Latvia to the EU, Ilze Juhansone, gives a preliminary overview of the priorities of Latvia’s Presidency and provides further details on some of the issues it will be focusing on.
Latvian Presidency of the European Union, BEUC priorities 2015 / The European Consumer Organisation, 2014, 44 pages
In this publication, the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) highlights the most pressing consumer expectations for the European Union and makes concrete recommendations on how the Latvian Presidency can work towards successful consumer policies.
Recommendations to the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the European Union / American Chamber of Commerce to the European Union, November 2014, 28 pages
These recommendations come from the AmCham EU recommendations on ‘Accelerating Growth and Vitality in the European Economy’ which call for action in five key areas (building skills for the future, integration of the single market, change for industrial leadership, new models of innovation and entrepreneurship and Europe’s leadership in an integrated global economy).
Programm der lettischen Ratspräsidentschaft der EU 2015 / Deutscher Bundestag, 12 January 2015, 2 pages
A short summary of the Latvian Presidency’s programme in German language.
Latvia today / The Latvian Institute, 2014, 29 pages
This publication by the Latvian Institute provides information about Latvian governance, culture, entrepreneurship, innovations, history, nature, sports and people.
Documents
Programme of the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the European Union (1 January – 30 June 2015) / 36 pages ( in Latvian )
Provisional agendas for Council meetings during the first semester of 2015 (Latvian Presidency) / 17114/14, 23 December 2014, 76 pages.
Addendum / 17114/14 ADD1, 7 January 2015, 10 pages.
The 18 month programme of the Council (1 July 2014 – 31 December 2015) / Italian, Latvian and Luxembourg Presidencies and the Foreign Affairs Council, Brussels, 17 June 2014, 103 pages
The trio of Italy, Latvia and Luxemburg defined long-term objectives and prepared a common agenda on the main topics and issues the Council will deal with over an 18-month period.
Trio Presidency declaration on equality between women and men / 24 October 2014, 6 pages
Joint declaration on actions to promote gender equality between women and men signed at the EU Presidency Conference “Gender equality in Europe: an unfinished business?” in Rome, during the Italian Presidency.
Declaration of Cooperation in the framework of the parliamentary dimension of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union between the Senate of the Italian Republic, the Chamber of Deputies of the Italian Republic, the Saeima of the Republic of Latvia and the Chamber of Deputies of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg for the period 1 July 2014 to 31 December 2015, signed on 7 April 2014
Draft calendar / Latvian Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2014 (as of 18/12/2014).
Analysis
Latvian Presidency of the Council of the European Union / Steven Eke, Control Risks, Newsletter Issue 6, December 2014
Control Risks believes it unlikely that Latvia’s presidency of the Council of the European Union will deliver a breakthrough in improving relations with Russia. In reality, this is likely to be a much longer-term project for which neither the bloc nor the Russian government currently appear to have the political will.
The Latvian presidency. Analysis, assessment and advice. The first presidency in the second post – Lisbon legislative cycle / TEPSA Background Paper, November 2014, 36 pages
In preparation for the Latvian Pre-Presidency Conference held in Riga on December 4, 2014, the Brussels-based Trans European Policy Studies Association (TEPSA) has issued its traditional assessment and recommendations.
Recommendations from members of the TEPSA network to the Latvian Presidency / TEPSA, November 2014, 2 pages
Researchers’ recommendations to the Latvian Presidency: focus on investment and global strategy.
In Latvian:
Assessment of the impact of the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the European Union on the Latvian economy / KPMG, December 2014, 54 pages
The research indicates that the total benefit for the Latvian economy from the Presidency of Latvia of the Council of the European Union during the first half of 2015 will amount to EUR 64.5 million. The Presidency will ensure an increase in tax revenue, promote employment, increase residents’ incomes, have a positive effect on the development of tourism and improve the professional capacity of the staff of state institutions.
News
Latest news about the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, source: official website of the Latvian Presidency.
Latest news about the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the European Union (in Latvian, English, German, Russian, French and Portuguese), source: EMM (European Commission)
Latvian EU Presidency news / EurActiv
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