Published: 29.05.2023.
Updated: 16.12.2024.
Updated: 16.12.2024.
Co-operation among Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia is traditionally close, multi-faceted and pragmatic. It is based on the common interests and goals of the three countries in the following areas of foreign and security policy: the advancement of security and welfare, fostering economic development, and membership in the EU and NATO. Intensive co-operation is ongoing in the energy sector and in transport infrastructure projects.
The first steps in co-operation between Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia were made in the 1920s century, soon after the independence of the three countries. On September 12, 1934 the Foreign Ministers of the Baltic States in Geneva, Switzerland, signed a Memorandum of Understanding between Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. It was in force until the occupation of the Baltic States. The co-operation of the Baltic nations became intense in the late 1980s and early 1990s in the struggle for the restoration of their independence. Particularly significant was the Baltic Way which took place on 23 August 1989. The Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian Consensus and Co-operation Declaration was signed on 12 May 1990 in Tallinn. Moreover, on 13 June 1994 in Tallinn, the Prime Ministers of the Baltic States signed an agreement on co-operation between the parliaments and governments of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
Within the framework of Baltic co-operation, active dialogue is ongoing at the level of Presidents, Speakers of Parliaments, Heads of Government, Ministers and experts. The Baltic States’ inter-parliamentary institution is the Baltic Assembly founded on 8 November 1991. On the other hand, the Baltic Council of Ministers, which was established on 13 June 1994, is the co-operation institution for the Baltic States governments. They were created according to the model of the Nordic Council and the Nordic Council of Ministers, thus facilitating the mutual co-operation between the Baltic States and the Nordic countries.
The Baltic Assembly (BA) is the inter-parliamentary institution of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania which was established on 8 November 1991. Each national parliament may delegate 12 to 16 MPs to the BA. The Assembly is a coordinating and consultative institution.
The Baltic Assembly has the right to express its opinion to the national parliaments, governments and the Baltic Council of Ministers in the form of a resolution, decision, declaration or recommendation, while using the form of an appeal, proposal, or statement when addressing other international or regional organizations.
The Baltic Assembly sessions are held once a year. During Lithuania’s Presidency the 43rd Baltic Assembly Session and the 30th Baltic Council took place on 17 and 18 October 2024 in Vilnius. The 44th Baltic Assembly Session and the 31st Baltic Council is taking place on 13 and 14 November 2025 in Riga during Latvia’s Presidency.
Between sessions, the Presidium of the Baltic Assembly may adopt statements on current issues of the international agenda.
There are five standing committees of the Baltic Assembly:
- Education, Science and Culture Committee
- Health, Welfare and Family Committee
- Natural Resources and Environment Committee
- Security and Defence Committee
- Economics, Energy and Innovation Committee
Since 2003, the Baltic Assembly Presidency has been harmonized with the Baltic Council of Ministers and lasts one year. In 2024 the presiding country was Lithuania, in 2025 Latvia has assumed these responsibilities.
Baltic Assembly's website: www.baltasam.org
The Baltic Council of Ministers (BCM) is a co-operation institution of the governments of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, established on 13 June 1994.
The task of the BCM is to ensure the continuity of co-operation at the level of national executive authorities. It is responsible for the co-operation among the governments of the Baltic States, as well as for the co-operation between the governments and the Baltic Assembly (the national parliaments). The Baltic Council of Ministers makes decisions on the implementation of recommendations and resolutions of the Baltic Assembly. It facilitates broad and substantive mutual co-operation. The Baltic Council of Ministers has decision-making powers only in presence of representatives of all Baltic States. Decisions are made by consensus.
The presidency of the Baltic Council of Ministers is rotated annually among the Baltic States. Since 2003, the Baltic Assembly’s Presidency has been harmonized with the Baltic Council of Ministers’ Presidency and lasts one year In 2024, the presiding country was Lithuania, in 2025 Latvia has assumed these responsibilities.
BA and BCM co-operation priorities set by Latvia for 2025:
- Regional security and resilience;
- Support to Ukraine;
- Improving regional connectivity, strengthening energy security, attracting investment.
Legal basis of the Baltic Council of Ministers
BCM Prime Ministers’ Council
The Prime Ministers’ Council, which includes the Heads of Government of the Baltic States, is the highest decission-making body of the BCM. The Prime Ministers’ Council adopts basic documents in the form of joint statements and approves priority areas of the Baltic States’ co-operation.
On 22 November 2024 the Baltic States’ Prime Ministers met in Vilnius for the last meeting of the BCM Prime Ministers’ Council under the Lithuanian Presidency. The development of Rail Baltica and other regional infrastructure projects, support to Ukraine as well as regional security and defence issues were discussed during the meeting.
BCM Co-operation Council and Baltic Council
The Baltic States’ Foreign Ministers work in the BCM Co-operation Council. The Co-operation Council is responsible for the overall coordination of the Baltic States collaboration and meets at least once a year.
The Baltic Council is the highest form of co-operation between the Baltic Assembly and the BCM. The Baltic Council is a joint meeting of the Baltic Assembly and the BCM Co-operation Council, which traditionally takes place during the Baltic Assembly Session. At the Baltic Council issues of common interest are discussed and priorities for the following calendar year are set. Joint documents on the basis of consensus may be adopted. The Chairman of the Co-operation Council (Foreign Minister of the chairing country) presents an overview of the co-operation during the year. Whereas the Foreign Minister of the incoming presidency outlines its priorities and plans for the next year. The priorities are stated in the Joint Statement of the Baltic Council.
Baltic Council of Ministers' Secretariat
The Secretariat ensures the operation of the Baltic Council of Ministers. It consists of the Baltic States’ Foreign Ministries officials who are responsible for the coordination of the Baltic States’ Co-operation. The leadership of the Secretariat changes on a rotating basis depending on the country chairing the BCM. The Secretariat is involved in the preparation of the Prime Ministers’ Council meetings, the Co-operation Council meetings and the Baltic Council. It serves as a link for exchange of information and documentation among officials of the Baltic States. The Secretariat formulates the priorities of the Baltic States’ co-operation, drafts the Foreign Ministers’ reports to the Baltic Assembly and prepares the joint statements of the Baltic Council and the Baltic Council of Ministers.
The Baltic Assembly (BA) and the Baltic Council of Ministers (BCM) have agreed on a closer and more effective co-operation. To achieve this goal, the trilateral Agreement on Baltic Governmental and Parliamentary Co-operation was amended in 2003. In 2004 the protocol defining specific co-operation mechanisms was amended. The result was the establishment of the above-mentioned Co-operation Council (the meeting of Foreign Ministers of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) and the Baltic Council (the meeting of the Baltic Assembly and the Co-operation Council of the BCM).
In accordance with the co-operation documents signed, collaboration between the Baltic Council of Ministers and the Baltic Assembly takes place at all levels – the annual Baltic Council, regular co-operation between the secretariats of national delegations of the Baltic Council of Ministers and the Baltic Assembly. Representatives of the sectoral ministries of the Baltic States participate in the Baltic Assembly committee sessions and thematic conferences.