Prime Minister: Reaching Presidency goals will require close cooperation with the EP

On Wednesday 14 January, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Latvia, Laimdota Straujuma i, presented the Latvian Presidency’s priorities - Competitive Europe, Digital Europe and Engaged Europe - to the Members of the European Parliament in a plenary session.

The Prime Minister paid special attention to the current issues regarding European security and home affairs. Despite the violent acts in France, she encouraged to strengthen the intercultural dialogue and have greater respect and trust among nations.

“In this democratic world we are brothers and sisters who support harmony, free self-expression and peaceful coexistence of different cultures and religions,  said the Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Straujuma encouraged all the EU institutions - the Parliament, the Council and the Commissions - to work together in order to facilitate growth and employment in the European Union, improve the internal market by applying digital solutions and provide unanimous and sustainable solution to global challenges - terrorism, Russian aggression in Ukraine and migration.

In the meeting with the President of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz i, the Prime Minister proposed the European Parliament to work towards a consensus on the implementation of a Passenger Name Record (PNR) system, which would contribute significantly to suspect identification. At the same time it was also pointed out that work on Data protection as a matter of priority will be continued irrespective of progress on PNR.

L. Straujuma and M. Schulz agreed on fast-track procedure by the European Parliament and the Council for the legislative proposal on the European Fund for Strategic Investments adopted by the Commission on 13 January in order to make the decision on the establishment of the Fund during the Latvia’s Presidency in the EU Council.