On 23 October 2023 in Luxembourg, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Krišjānis Kariņš, took part in the 19th European Union - Central Asia Ministerial Meeting attended for the first time not only by the EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy but also by the Foreign Ministers of EU Member States.
The participants adopted the Road Map for Deepening Ties between the EU and Central Asia and issued a joint communiqué committing themselves to continued strategic partnership and the strengthening of cooperation.
In his address to the ministers on behalf of the three Baltic States, Krišjānis Kariņš underlined that EU-Central Asia relations should contribute to the region’s resilience and prosperity. He noted that the Baltic States were prepared to work on the implementation of the EU-Central Asia Roadmap. Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania are interested in strengthening the EU’s connectivity with Central Asia, including through the transport and logistics infrastructure of the Baltic States. The Minister also mentioned the reform experience of the Baltic States, while expressing readiness to continue the transfer of that experience to Central Asia.
The Latvian Foreign Minister emphasized that it was also necessary to cooperate closely in the future to protect the international order, as well as to ensure that the region was not used for the circumvention of EU sanctions against Russia and Belarus. The importance was also noted of cooperation in the field of the legal protection of citizens.