On Friday 17 June, Prime Minister Māris Kučinskis met H.E. Mr Stefan Löfven, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Sweden in Stockholm. During the meeting, the officials discussed the bilateral relations between the two countries and opportunities for further regional cooperation. The Heads of Government also discussed security in the Baltic Sea region, as well as current developments in the European Union.
M. Kučinskis pointed out that the aim of the visit is to expand the economic cooperation of the two countries. "There is good potential to expand cooperation with Sweden in the field of innovation," said the Prime Minister. He stressed that the work is underway on a coordinated system to increase the efficiency of the process of technology transfer in Latvia. "Only when science cooperates with entrepreneurs, we will be able to purposefully develop our economy," acknowledged the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister also welcomed the recently ratified Memorandum of Understanding between Sweden and NATO and the decision to join the NATO StratCom centre. "It is in our interest to strengthen security in the Baltic Sea region, therefore, the political and military cooperation with Sweden is particularly important to us," stressed M.Kučinskis. As regards the preparations for the Warsaw Summit, the Prime Minister expressed confidence that the decision to step up NATO forces in the Baltic region is an appropriate response to today's challenges and will make the Baltic region even safer.
The two Heads of Government discussed topical EU issues and preparations for the European Council to be held at the end of June. M. Kučinskis pointed out that the EU should work to stimulate economic growth, based on further development of the EU's single market. As to the Brexit referendum, both Prime Ministers expressed the hope that Britain will remain in the EU.
As announced, on 17 June, M.Kučinskis is paying a working visit to Sweden. Within the framework of the visit, the meeting with Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Sweden, S. Löfven, visits to the Royal Institute of Technology and the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences, as well as meeting with compatriots in Sweden are planned.
Andrejs Vaivars
Press Secretary to the Prime Minister
Phone: 29228678
E-mail: Andrejs.Vaivars@mk.gov.lv