On March 13, His Royal Highness the Grand Duke of Luxembourg arrived in Riga on a State visit, which is also the Grand Duke's first visit to Latvia. After the meeting at Riga Castle, President Egils Levits and the Grand Duke of Luxembourg made statements to the media.
Published: 13.03.2023.
Statement by the President of Latvia to the media after the meeting with His Royal Highness the Grand Duke of Luxembourg
I am delighted to welcome His Royal Highness the Grand Duke of Luxembourg on his first visit to Latvia. This is the first visit ever by the Grand Duke of Luxembourg to Latvia.
Last year we celebrated the centenary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Latvia and Luxembourg and the thirtieth anniversary of the renewal of relations.
This visit is a confirmation of the close and friendly relations between our countries.
I believe that territorially small countries like Latvia and Luxembourg must stand together to uphold the international order and resist attempts by aggressor countries to change it arbitrarily.
Therefore, I highly appreciate the opportunity today to exchange views on current security, European Union and international policy issues and to discuss opportunities for closer cooperation between Latvia and Luxembourg.
Both Latvia and Luxembourg fully understand that we must provide Ukraine with all the support it needs, including in the reconstruction of Ukraine after the war and on the path towards its European integration.
The European Union must also continue to exert political, economic and diplomatic pressure on Russia.
Ukraine must win this war and Russia must know that it will be held accountable by a special tribunal.
At the same time, we need to invest more in the resilience of our own democracies and the development of security capabilities, especially at the external borders of the European Union and NATO with Russia, but also in the South.
We also appreciate Luxembourg's good cooperation with Latvia in the defence sector and the cooperation initiatives with our National Armed Forces.
As an example, I would mention Luxembourg's contribution to the development of the Adaži military base by building new barracks to accommodate soldiers.
Faced with common challenges in the current geopolitical situation, cooperation between the Baltic States and the Benelux countries should be promoted in the future. We see potential for closer cooperation not only in foreign policy, but also in energy and education.
Of particular note is the conclusion of an agreement on the automatic mutual recognition of higher education degrees between the Baltic and Benelux countries. So, between six countries.
This agreement is the first of its kind in the European Union. It could serve as a basis for further regional integration in the field of education and for promoting the mobility of our population.
I am delighted that Luxembourg has already ratified this agreement in February.
I would also like to highlight the growing economic cooperation between Latvia and Luxembourg.
Currently, Luxembourg is among the top 10 countries with the highest foreign investment in the Latvian economy. At the same time, it is in the interest of both countries to increase cooperation, especially in the field of digital and green technologies.
Therefore, I am confident that the Grand Duke's visit and the Latvia-Luxembourg Business Forum on digitalisation and sustainability, scheduled for tomorrow, will promote even more active contacts between our companies.
People-to-people contacts are also of great value. The Latvian diaspora in Luxembourg is one of the most active Latvian communities in Europe.
Friendship between countries is based on people. Many Latvians know Luxembourg, and I encourage Luxembourgers to get to know Latvia even more actively.
I am convinced that Latvia and Luxembourg, as European countries, make a great contribution to the development and strengthening of the European Union and NATO.
I thank His Royal Highness the Grand Duke of Luxembourg for this visit!
