Jean Asselborn with Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs; Credit: MAEE

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia, Edgars Rinkēvičs, today paid an official visit to Luxembourg.

On 18 October 2017, Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs visited the Grand Duchy at the invitation of the Luxembourg Minister for Foreign and European Affairs, Jean Asselborn. The visit was part of the 25th anniversary of the re-establishment of diplomatic relations with Latvia.

The discussions between Minister Asselborn and his Latvian counterpart highlighted the excellent state of relations between the Grand Duchy and Latvia, both in bilateral terms and in cooperation in the Benelux-Baltic format. Similarly, the exchange of views examined the potential for developing closer bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

Discussions then focused on the major issues of European current affairs, focusing in particular on current reflections on the future of the European Union, the directive on the posting of workers and the digital single market. Both ministers welcomed in this respect the close cooperation between the two countries on European issues. The exchange of views was also an opportunity to discuss the situation in Ukraine and the Eastern Partnership as well as issues related to enlargement and the general framework of long-term relations between the EU and Russia.

During his visit to Luxembourg, Minister Rinkēvičs was received in audience by His Royal Highness the Grand Duke, before meeting the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Mars di Bartolomeo, as well as the members of the Foreign and European Affairs Committee.