“Even in the 25 years to come, our close, innovative, and flexible co-operation can help to strengthen our common position and role in a wider European and global context. This is a win-win situation for the Nordic and Baltic region.” Dagfinn Høybråten Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers In 2016 we celebrated 25 years of successful cooperation between the Nordic and Baltic countries. Ever since the Nordic governments decided to open the Nordic Council of Ministers’ offices in Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius in 1991, a strong bridge of values and networks between the Nordics and Baltics has been built. We thank all our cooperation partners for providing us with support and inspiration! In 2016 the Nordic Council of Ministers´ Office in Latvia strived for balanced representation in all its mainstay fields: culture, social welfare, sustainable economic and environmental development. Activities have been intensified in such sub-sectors as bio-economy, digital entrepreneurship and sustainable business. Support to good-quality independent media, initiated in 2015 and focusing on Latvian regions with significant minority populations, was continued. Moreover, being an active participant in a number of local fora, the Nordic Council of Ministers´ Office in Latvia has reacted to the changing political sentiments by probing its way into a couple of new directions, such as societal security, societal cohesion and promotion of media literacy. In 2016 the office was especially active in reaching out beyond the capital city of Riga into other parts of Latvia.
