35 years of Nordic countries collaborating with Latvia – why it matters more today than ever
On 15 May 1991, as Latvia was reclaiming its independence, the Nordic Information Office opened in Riga. It was a modest step at the time, but taken at a moment when trust, stability and international support were not guaranteed and therefore increasingly crucial. Thirty-five years later, as Director of the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Office in Latvia, I am often asked what this presence really means today. The answer is both simple and demanding: Nordic representation in Latvia has expanded since then and Nordics are no longer here to help build democracy, they are here to maintain it together.
In the early 1990s, cooperation between Latvia and the Nordic countries was shaped by urgency. Latvia was rebuilding its institutions and redefining its place in Europe. Nordic countries, in turn, understood that stability in the Baltics was closely tied to their own security. But what made this cooperation lasting was not only shared interests, it was shared values and a willingness to trust each other at a time when trust had to be rebuilt from the ground up.
The role of the Nordic Council of Ministers in Latvia has evolved. In the 1990s, our task was to support democratic development. Today, in a very different geopolitical reality, we stand side by side with Latvia in protecting the values that define our societies: human rights, rule of law, sovereignty and freedom. This shift is not theoretical. It reflects the reality we see around us – from the war in Ukraine to the growing pressure on democratic systems across Europe. Latvia’s own historical experience gives it a particularly strong understanding of these challenges. That experience is not only relevant nationally – it is increasingly valuable across the Nordic-Baltic region.
Cooperation is often discussed at a high level, but its impact is practical. It can be seen when young people take part in school elections and learn how democratic participation works in practice. It is present when independent media are supported in maintaining high professional standards. It is reflected in public discussions and democracy (discussion) festivals, where different opinions can be expressed openly, or when we together talks about protection of critical infrastructure and how we secure independent energy supply to our countries. These efforts may seem small individually, but together they form something essential: a society capable of thinking critically, engaging constructively and resisting manipulation – things that Nordic countries are still actively working on in order to secure that within their own societies.
A new focus: resilience and energy security
Since late 2025, we have strengthened our work in an area that has become impossible to ignore – societal resilience, including energy security. While resilience has long been part of our work through education, media support and civic engagement, we are now approaching it more directly and systematically.
For the first time, a dedicated energy team has been established within our office, and it reflects a clear understanding: energy is not only an economic or environmental issue – it is also a matter of preparedness and independence. In 2026, this work will become visible through several major initiatives. One of them will bring together Nordic and Baltic expertise in Riga on 15 September, when Nordic Energy Research, in cooperation with our offices in all three Baltic countries, will host a high-level conference focused on the future of energy cooperation in the region.
Nordic cooperation in Latvia is not limited to the capital – this year also marks five years since the opening of our regional office in Daugavpils. Its presence reflects an important principle: cooperation must reach beyond central institutions and be visible in different parts of society. In a city that is both culturally rich and strategically important, this local engagement helps strengthen dialogue, participation and resilience where it matters most – at community level.
Anniversary that is relevant for the future
Thirty-five years of cooperation is an important milestone. But when planning anniversary events, we’re not primarily about looking back. The same values that guided our work in the 1990s are still relevant and are once again being tested. The difference is that today, Latvia and the Nordic countries face these challenges together – not as supporters and recipients, but as equal partners.
Our shared ambition is clear: to build a region that is not only competitive and sustainable, but also resilient and secure. In Latvia, this means being prepared for crises without everyday life breaking down ensuring secure energy, reliable information and strong public trust. It is equally about people: their ability to think critically, make informed choices and not be easily influenced.
The lesson from the past 35 years is simple – cooperation works and trust matters. And when these are combined with a clear sense of purpose, they create something that is stronger than any single country alone. That is why Nordic-Latvian cooperation is not only a success story of the past. It is a necessity for the future – right here in Europe.
Author: Nina Hvid Enevoldsen, Director of the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Office in Latvia.
Article was published in newspaper "Latvijas Avīze", issue of March 27. It can be accessed in the online news outlet www.LASI.lv – here (in Latvian).
