Vaira Vike-Freiberga gave the keynote speech in this event focussed in the easter and southern heighbourhoods. She stressed the need to “create a situation in Europe where war is unthinkable” and showed her worry about the current developments in the Mediterranean:”We have a humanitarian crisis with people willing to risk their lifes in the Mediterranean“, she said
In their capacity as current president of the European Council during the first six-month term of 2015, the Republic of Latvia has undertaken many initiatives concerning the European Union both internally and internationally. As head of the Council and able (prompted, even) to influence the EU agenda and guide the EU endeavours; Latvia –following Italy on this position- has developed Strategies and has focused on three overarching priorities: Competitive Europe, Digital Europe and Engaged Europe.
Among their priorities, and specially considering their past history as well as their geographical location, Latvia has also stressed the importance of the Neighbourhood Policies of the European Union. Scheme that will center the discussions in the conference “The Future of the EU’s Eastern and Southern Neighbourhoods” organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Latvia, with the collaboration of the Club de Madrid and Real Instituto Elcano and hosted by the Fundación Botin. The young European democracies from the late 20th century –most of the eastern and southern countries of the continent- would be the cornerstone of a conference that will count with European personalities, including the Baltic country’s former head of state and current president of the Club of Madrid, Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga; and will be hosted in Madrid the next 12 of May, 2015.
For more information on the conference and the full programme, click here
The event will be hosted in the Fundacion Botin in Madrid. Click here to see the live broadcast
For more information of Democracy trends, visit our website on “New Generation Democracy”: http://nextgenerationdemocracy.org/
