Today, in Rome, marking the centenary of Latvia’s de iure recognition and establishment of diplomatic relations with Italy, President of Latvia Egils Levits met with the President of Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella. Latvian national flag was hoisted on the tower of Quirinal Palace as part of the welcoming ceremony today.
‘We are extremely grateful to Italy for being one of the first big powers to openly support the independence aspirations of the Baltic states,’ stressed the President of Latvia, pointing out that Italy has remained a close and loyal friend of Latvia.
This year Latvia and Italy mark several important milestones: hundred years since Latvia’s de iure recognition and establishment of diplomatic relations, as well as 30 years since Italy supported restoration of Latvia’s independence and bilateral ties.
Egils Levits specifically thanked Italy for its input in NATO’s efforts to strengthen deterrence and defence of the Baltic region. Italy is one of the countries which has deployed its troops to Latvia in scope of NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) battle group Latvia and takes part in NATO Baltic Air-Policing mission on rotational basis.
Presidents of both countries discussed the role of strategic communication in strengthening of security and countering of disinformation. Latvia is also happy to see Italy being actively engaged in activities of NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence. Italian and Latvian president then moved on to fight against disinformation and need to create more standards for accountability and transparency among online platforms fighting disinformation.
According to both presidents, protection and strengthening of fundamental rights, especially the freedom of speech and privacy, is equally as important. President of Latvia called for pan-European regulatory framework, which would allow to reach the above goals by means provided in the future Digital Services Act and European Democracy Action Plan.
Egils Levits and Sergio Mattarella also talked about how Latvia and Italy are coping with pandemic, economic recovery in both countries and Europe as a whole through schemes like European Union (EU) Recovery and Resilience Facility. On the future of Europe, presidents of both countries welcomed the Conference on the Future of Europe as an excellent platform for citizens desiring to contribute to shaping of EU’s future. They also touched upon the current progress of EU’s Eastern Partnership initiative.
Egils Levits thanked Sergio Mattarella for the official invitation to this year’s Arraiolos group meeting in Rome. Meeting, which will take place in September, brings together non-executive presidents of parliamentary democracies.