Latvia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs signs cooperation memorandum with leading universities ahead of 2028 EU Presidency

On 16 June 2026, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs signed a memorandum of cooperation with the University of Latvia, Riga Technical University and Rīga Stradiņš University to draw on the universities’ expertise, research and innovation capacity, infrastructure and talent during Latvia’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2028.

The implementation of the memorandum will be coordinated by the Secretariat of the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

“Latvia’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union is a national undertaking that provides an opportunity to showcase Latvia internationally as a safe, open and innovation-oriented country. The involvement of universities will help us draw on the potential of our academic community in preparing for and delivering the Latvian Presidency,” emphasised the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braže.

The memorandum aims to strengthen cooperation between the government and the academic community, ensuring that the expertise and practical capacity of Latvian universities can be used as broadly as possible in preparations for the Presidency.

The involvement of higher education institutions in shaping the Presidency will include opportunities to contribute to the Presidency programme, showcase Latvia’s science, research and innovation landscape, engage students and young professionals in the Presidency volunteer programme, and support the provision of venues for additional events.

During Latvia’s Presidency in the second half of 2028, approximately 250 events at various levels are expected to take place in Latvia. These will include meetings of heads of state and government, ministers and experts, as well as sectoral conferences and seminars. Up to 20,000 representatives from across the European Union are expected to visit Latvia over the six-month period.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is coordinating the preparation of the Presidency’s substantive priorities, which are scheduled to be finalised shortly before the start of the Presidency in 2028.

The Secretariat of the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the European Union is responsible for planning, delivering and overseeing Presidency events in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Permanent Representation of the Republic of Latvia to the European Union, sectoral ministries and the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union.

This will be Latvia’s second Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Latvia first held the Presidency in 2015.