Published: 29.05.2023.
Updated: 01.11.2024.

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 on 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. 85 years ago, 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 States became particularly visible in the late 1980s and early 1990s in the struggle for the restoration of their independence and the Baltic Way – human chain on August 23, 1989. The Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian Consensus and Co-operation Declaration was signed on 12 May 1990 in Tallinn, and 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. Baltic Parliamentary Co-operation takes place in the Baltic Assembly (BA), which was established on November 8, 1991. While intergovernmental co-operation takes place in the Baltic Council of Ministers (BCM), founded on 13 June 1994. They were created based on the model of the Nordic Council and the Nordic Council of Ministers – provide a significant contribution to the harmonization of foreign policy and the promotion of practical co-operation among the Baltic States, while at the same time advancing Baltic and Nordic cooperation.

The Baltic Assembly (BA) is an institution for parliamentary co-operation among Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania established on 8 November 1991. Each of the Baltic States is represented in the Assembly by a national delegation of 12-20 members of the parliament. The Assembly is a coordinating and consultative institution.

The Baltic Assembly has the right to make its views known 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 43rdBaltic Assembly Session and the 30th Baltic Council  took place on 17 and 18 October 2024 in Vilnius. 44th Baltic Assembly Session and 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 make decisions about current issues on the international agenda.

There are five standing committees of the Baltic Assembly:

  1. Education, Science and Culture Committee
  2. Health, Welfare and Family Committee
  3. Natural Resources and Environment Committee
  4. Security and Defence Committee.
  5. 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 rotating order, in 2024 the presiding country is Lithuania, in 2025 Latvia will assume these responsibilities.

Baltic Assembly's website: www.baltasam.org

The Baltic Council of Ministers (BCM), established on 13 June 1994, is an institution for governmental co-operation between Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.

The Baltic Council of Ministers is charged with ensuring the continuity of co-operation at the executive level of the states. It is responsible for co-operation among the governments of the Baltic States, as well as co-operation between the governments and the Baltic Assembly (the national parliaments). The Baltic Council of Ministers makes decisions regarding the implementation of recommendations of the Baltic Assembly. It promotes broad and substantive mutual co-operation. The Baltic Council of Ministers has decision-making powers only if representatives of all three Baltic States are present. 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 Presidency has been harmonized with the Baltic Council of Ministers Presidency and lasts one year. In rotating order, in 2024, the presiding country is Lithuania, in 2025 Latvia will assume these responsibilities. 

BA and BCM co-operation priorities set by Lithuania for 2024:

  1. Regional security, including safety of critical infrastructure
  2. Bolstering regional interconnectivity
  3. Support to Ukraine including uniform sanctions implementation

BA and BCM co-operation priorities set by Latvia for 2025:

  1. Regional security and resilience;
  2. Support to Ukraine;
  3. Improving regional connectivity, strengthening energy security, attracting investment.

Legal basis of the Baltic Council of Ministers

Terms of Reference for the Baltic Council of Ministers
Regulations for the Committees of Senior Officials and Task Forces

BCM Prime Ministers’ Council

The Baltic Council of Ministers operates under the guidance of the Prime Ministers’ Council, the highest decision-making body, which meets at least once a year. The Prime Ministers’ Council adopts basic documents in the form of joint statements and approves priority areas of the Baltic States cooperation.

On 13 May 2024 Prime Ministers of Baltic States met in Vilnius for the first meeting of BCM Prime Ministers Council under Lithuanian Presidency. Focus of the meeting was on security and defence issues, Russia’s war in Ukraine, regional infrastructure projects and the EU agenda.

Press statement of Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina.

BCM Co-operation Council and Baltic Council

The BCM Co-operation Council consists of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Baltic States. The Co-operation Council is responsible for the overall coordination of Baltic States cooperation. The Co-operation Council meets at least once a year.

The Baltic Council is the highest form of co-operation between the Baltic Assembly and the BMP. The Baltic Council is a joint meeting of the Baltic Assembly and the BMP 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 identified. At the Baltic Council joint documents on the basis of consensus may be adopted. The Chairman of the Co-operation Council (Foreign Minister of the rotating presidency) presents an overview of the past year’s work and answers to the members of parliament questions. Whereas the Foreign Minister of the incoming presidency outlines its priorities and plans for next year. The priorities are included in the Joint Statement of the Baltic Council.

30. Baltijas Padomes, kas notika 2024. gada 18. oktobrī Viļņā, kopīgais paziņojums

Baltic Council of Ministers Secretariat

The Secretariat ensures the operation of the Baltic Council of Ministers. The Secretariat consists of the officials of the Foreign Ministries of the Baltic States who are responsible for the coordination of the Baltic State Co-operation. Annual changes in the Secretariat’s leadership follow the rotating presidency of the Baltic Council of Ministers. The Secretariat is involved in preparation for the meetings of the Prime Ministers’ Council, the Co-operation Council and the Baltic Council and serves as a link for exchange of information and documentation among officials of the Baltic States. The rotating leadership of the Secretariat formulates priorities for the Baltic States cooperation and drafts reports of the Chairman of the Co-operation Council to the Baltic Assembly and joint statements by 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, the trilateral Agreement on Baltic Governmental and Parliamentary Co-operation was amended in 2003, as was the protocol defining specific co-operation mechanisms in 2004. 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, co-operation between the Baltic Council of Ministers and the Baltic Assembly take place at all levels – at the annual session of the Baltic Council, a meeting of  the Baltic Assembly  and the Co-operation Council of the BCM. Regular co-operation takes place 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 are invited to participate in Baltic Assembly committee sessions and thematic conferences.