European challenges: The Baltic outlook.

Latvia is the central country of the Baltic States (between Estonia and Lithuania) and is located in Northern Europe on the east coast of the Baltic Sea. With its history of nearly 100 years as a republic and 25 years since the regaining of independence, with a population of 2 million people and one of the most vibrant and fastest growing economies in the region, Latvia is a proud member of the European Union, NATO and Eurozone. Latvia holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first semester of 2015. The world is increasingly interconnected, fast-moving and unpredictable. We seize opportunities and - at the same time - face different threats on a daily basis. At a time when the main task is to stimulate growth in Europe, we are facing growing security challenges brought in the wake of the crisis in the Eastern Neighbourhood of the European Union. Ukraine, Libya, terrorist attacks in Europe, Middle East, and Ebola virus epidemic are just few examples. But there are also new opportunities created by advances in technology and transport, access to education, and health care. The spread of innovation has catalysed the emergence of new markets and economic actors on the global scene. These advances add up to a source of a better life for all. What are the challenges that Europe is facing at the moment? How is Latvia - a member of the European Union, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a member of Euro Zone and for the first time, the Presidency of the Council of the European Union - perceiving and tackling these challenges? Ambassador Andris Teikmanis will present the Baltic outlook on the trends and processes in Europe today. He will present Latvian positions, views and priorities which have been defined in the course of the Presidency of the EU Council as well as having a closer look at relations with our Eastern neighbour, Russia. Mr Teikmanis will also provide insights on how Latvia has developed its bilateral relations with Australia and explain why Australia is important partner for us and the European Union. Ambassador Andris Teikmanis is an experienced European diplomat serving more than 20 years for the Latvian diplomatic service. He has been a top Latvian diplomat in Germany and Russia, and is now representing Latvia to the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. He has served also as State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and before joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was a Mayor of Latvian capital city of Riga. While his mother tongue is Latvian, the Ambassador speaks English, Russian and German. The ANUCES is an initiative involving five ANU Colleges (Arts and Social Sciences, Law, Business and Economics, Asia and the Pacific and Medicine, Biology and Environment) co-funded by the ANU and the European Union.