NATO member states have decided to drop the requirement for a Membership Action Plan (MAP) for Ukraine on its path to NATO membership, Lithuania’s President, Gitanas Nauseda, confirmed, Ukrainska Pravda reports. This was earlier announced by Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba. Nauseda noted that the move would simplify Ukraine’s NATO accession process. He stressed that…
Lithuania and Poland need to increase their cooperation to speed up the synchronisation of the Baltic electricity grids with the European system, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda stated, BNS reports. Also, the two countries needed to accelerate the implementation of the Via Baltica highway, the Augustow-Alytus road, and the Rail Baltica railway projects, Nauseda said. Speaking…
Latvia’s new president, Edgars Rinkevics, held his inauguration speech in the Latvian parliament, the Saeima, outlining his vision of a “strong, modern, just, and safe” Latvia, on 8 July 2023, LSM reports. The President noted that Latvia was one, yet not homogenous, and stressed that the rights of every person must be protected. Latvia’s biggest…
Latvia’s now former president, Egils Levits, believes that he did important work during his presidency, LETA reports. Speaking in an interview with TV3, Levits noted that his work had not been easy, but that popularity was never his priority. He said that Latvia’s national security and nation state had been strengthened during his presidency. Levits…
Latvia’s Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins (New Unity) plans to clarify the future of the current ruling coalition by the middle of August 2023, before the start of next year’s budget talks, LSM reports. Karins said that summer was a “time of silence,” and that he would use the time to ascertain whether the coalition government…
Latvia’s new president, Edgars Rinkevics, has taken his oath of office in the Latvian parliament, the Saeima, LSM reports. In his inaugural speech, Rinkevics pledged to work for the creation of a “modern, strong, legal, and just Latvia,” for people’s well-being, and for an inclusive and respectful society. He said that everyone “should feel that…
The presidents of Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland — Egils Levits, Gitanas Nauseda, and Andrzej Duda — have sent a joint letter to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and leaders of NATO member states to warn them of the threats posed by the developments in Belarus, BNS reports. In the letter, the three presidents pointed out…
Latvia’s Prime Minister, Krisjanis Karins, will temporarily serve as acting foreign minister after current foreign minister Edgars Rinkevics is sworn in as the country’s new president, LSM reports. Karins will perform the duties of foreign minister until the parliament, the Saeima, approves the appointment of a new foreign minister. Rinkevics will be sworn in as…
Latvia’s outgoing president, Egils Levits, delivered his departure speech on 7 July 2023, LSM reports. He thanked the people of Latvia for giving him the opportunity to serve for four years as their president. Levits said that his role was to work for a Latvian Latvia without "remnants of Soviet occupation." The President said that…
