Flags hoisted at the Castle of Light to mark the opening of the Presidency

On Monday, the EU and Member States' flags were flown outside the National Library of Latvia (LNB) at a ceremony marking the start of the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The building known as the "Castle of Light" is the main venue in Riga for Presidency events and will be recognised throughout Europe as one of the symbols of the Presidency.

The Parliamentary State Secretary for EU Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, LNB Director, Andris Vilks, and the Director of the Secretariat of the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Kristīne Pommere, also attended the flag-hoisting ceremony.

The ceremony symbolically announced that the building is fully equipped for the Presidency and ready to welcome its guests after the extensive reorganisation carried out in December. As Mr Vilks stressed, it is very important that the normal work of the library continues during these six months. The LNB is the first national library to be chosen as a presidency venue in any Member State. Three floors of the library are devoted to the Presidency and the premises are equipped with everything necessary to host the events. A modern and spacious Media Centre has also been set up in the LNB to provide support to the Latvian and international media reporting on the Presidency events.

The flags were raised by liaison officers for the Presidency as well as young people from all parts of Latvia who took part in a role-play game organised at the LNB on 5 January to simulate a Council meeting.

The Presidency is an opportunity for the library to showcase its role not only as the national symbol for knowledge and memory but also as a forum for the exchange of experience and culture.