Region of Opportunities

The Baltic Sea Region has played an important role in the history of Europe for centuries. It has been a place where different cultures and nations lived and interacted with each other. As the time passes, we have recognized it again that the countries in the region cannot coexist without co-operation and mutual understanding.

Now that the Baltic Sea region has recovered its historical role as an area for economic and cultural co-operation and the gate between the East and the West, it has an opportunity to become one of the most important centres of growth in the world. Our region has plenty of opportunities to develop as a model region in close relation to the EU enlargement process being as an excellent opportunity for the Baltic Sea region and for Latvia in particular to demonstrate that it is integral part of Europe. Currently, Riga plays an important role in the regional development process, and the importance of our capital and the region will increase.

Riga has already developed its environmental strategy with the support of foreign experts. In the course of the discussions and the development of the strategy, Riga found that environmental issues cannot be solved locally - it is not only the support of the neighbouring towns and rural areas that is needed. We also need understanding and support of neighbouring countries in order to implement the strategic goals. The recent events have affected the global economic situation. However, they have taught us another lesson - broad economic co-operation and mutual understanding will be able to protect us from various unpleasant surprises.

Of all the countries in the Baltic Sea region, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia are the youngest ones and we have not yet accumulated enough of experience in democracy, and the civil society and stable political culture have not yet developed in full. In these areas, we can learn a lot from other countries in the region - not only how to create effective administrative institutions with high capacity but also how to implement such institutions in a way that leads to high trust of the public in the state and public power.