Bilateral cooperation between Latvia and Luxembourg in economy and the security sector, cooperation in the Baltic and Benelux (Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg) formats, further support to Ukraine and containing Russia, including sanctions against Russia and Belarus, matters high on the European Union’s and international agenda – those were key topics discussed at the meeting between the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braže, and the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Luxembourg, Xavier Bettel. On Tuesday, 30 July, he has arrived in Latvia for an official visit.
In a press conference following their bilateral meeting, Xavier Bettel thanked Baiba Braže for the untiring reminder on her part about the situation at the borders of Latvia and the Baltic, because this is the border of all of us – of the EU.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braže: “Luxembourg is a friend and ally of Latvia – the close diplomatic relations between Latvia and Luxembourg date back for more than 100 years. We are working closely in the EU, NATO, the UN and other international organisations. We agree on the importance of the EU’s unity: we discussed potential solutions to make uniform decisions at the EU level, despite the positions of individual countries. We are united in our belief that the Euro-Atlantic space needs to be further strengthened, Russia contained, and strong support for Ukraine continued, since Ukraine is fighting for the security of the entire Europe. Luxembourg has invested heavily in the security of the Baltic region and this is a contribution to the security of all of us, as we safeguard both the eastern border of the EU and NATO and the Euro-Atlantic space.”
'We also discussed the state of affairs in the Middle East, which is explosive and unpredictable and has a direct impact on all of us. We are united in the position that there is a need for an urgent solution to de-escalate the situation,” says Baiba Braže.
In a discussion on EU affairs in the context of the EU Strategic Agenda (2024–2029), Baiba Braže stressed that security is the most important matter since no prosperity is possible without security. As concerns the EU enlargement process, the Ministers agreed that this should be based on the fulfilment of criteria and on values.
The Minister expressed Latvia’s interest in attracting new investments from Luxembourg – the country already being among the ten largest investors in Latvian companies. “We discussed with Xavier Bettel the ways to strengthen our bilateral contacts in economy and security, as we have a considerable potential for building economic cooperation, for instance, in space industry: Luxembourg is home to a large NATO and EU satellite centre, and this is one of the areas which we are interested in and which holds a potential for tangible cooperation, which should be embraced. Let me note that Latvia, being an associated Member of the European Space Agency, is actively involved in international projects, and it is vital to promote experience sharing with other interested countries,” Baiba Braže emphasised.
She also pointed out that “we have a vast potential technological innovations, digitalisation, banking and financial technologies sector. We’re going to meet several Latvian companies today, including those which are already operating successfully in Luxembourg and the Benelux, and would like to expand cooperation”.
In the context of the Baltic-Benelux cooperation, the two Ministers welcomed the signing of an agreement on automatic recognition of higher education qualifications – it took effect this past 1 May and is one of the vivid examples of cooperation between the Baltic States and the Benelux countries.
Baiba Braže expressed gratitude for the visit of Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, to Latvia in 2023, which demonstrated mutual respect and the strong relationship between the countries. Latvia and Luxembourg are linked not only by similar positions on important issues and participation in international organisations, but also by cooperation in the field of security, culture, education and by the active Latvian diaspora, which engages in both cultural projects and those in support of Ukraine.
The Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Luxembourg, Xavier Bettel, has arrived in Latvia on an official visit, as part of which he also met with the President of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs, the CEO of the Freeport of Riga, Ansis Zeltiņš, as well as touring the Latvian National Museum of Art and the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia.
