site.btaBulgaria Holds Political Consultations with Latvia in Riga

Bulgaria and Latvia held political consultations in Riga on March 14 to discuss current issues on the bilateral and European agenda, the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry wrote on its internet site.

On the Bulgarian side, the consultations were led by the Foreign Ministry's Director-General for European Affairs Yordan Parvanov, and on the Latvian side, by Under-Secretary of State for European Affairs Ingrida Levrence.

The two delegations exchanged views on the most important aspects of EU enlargement and the future of Europe, including the debate on reforms in the bloc. They underscored the need for a united and strong EU.  The Bulgarian delegation laid particular emphasis on the principle that EU candidate countries should be judged on their own merits.

The Bulgarian side thanked Latvia for its support for Sofia's accession to the Schengen area, the eurozone and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Speakers noted the strategic significance of the Three Seas Initiative and all aspects of connectivity.

Bulgaria and Latvia will seek opportunities for further development of their trade and economic cooperation and exchange in culture and tourism, among other areas.

The consultations coincided with Bulgaria's participation in the opening of the Francophonie Film Festival in Riga. A Bulgarian film will be shown at the festival for the second year in a row.

The meeting came after Bulgaria-Latvia political consultations in Sofia on March 29, 2023.