On 17 October 2024, Riga is hosting the annual consultations of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Baltic States on consular matters, at which consular officers are discuss the topics of current importance in consular assistance, including preparations for issuing of the new model of the European Union emergency travel document from December 2025 onwards. Opinions are also shared on the importance of an effective and successful public communication in cases of both large-scale crisis and individual consular assistance.
“Reaching out to those involved in crises with a timely, comprehensible and truthful information is critical since it can affect the course and outcomes of crisis management,” said Agnese Saliņa, Director of the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during the consultations.
The meeting also addresses the Baltic States’ position on migration and mobility partnership with third countries. The consultations devote particular attention to the work of consular services and its monitoring, including ideas for the reorganisation of consular services.
Officials from the Baltic States also shared experience and best practice for cooperation with outsourcing companies, which have become important partners to consular services in recent years.
Consultations of the Baltic States’ consular services are an important and valuable platform for sharing of experience to improve the efficiency of consular services. They are organized annually on the rotational basis, and held in Riga this year. Next year, the consular consultations will take place in Tallinn.
