On 26 March, at the Riga Castle, President Edgars Rinkēvičs met with Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Start-ups, Research and Innovation. During the meeting, the parties discussed the priorities of the European Commission’s next Multiannual Financial Framework, with particular attention to security, resilience and economic development in the eastern border regions.
The President briefed the Commissioner on the current situation at Latvia’s eastern border and the country’s security needs. “Strengthening the eastern border regions requires the allocation of adequate resources within the next European Commission Multiannual Budget, to enhance both the defence capabilities of Member States and the resilience and economic activity of regions bordering Russia and Belarus,” the President stated.
President Rinkēvičs expressed support for increased funding for the development of dual-use technologies, promoting cooperation between the state, industry and researchers, as well as the faster introduction of these innovations into manufacturing and the expansion of cooperation with like-minded partners. The parties also discussed European Commission proposals for expanding the EU single market.
