Shared Priorities in the EU Multiannual Financial Framework Negotiations
- For the governments of Estonia and Latvia to reaffirm their commitment to cooperate in the EU Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) negotiation process to secure EU financing for common key priorities. These include increased funding for defence readiness, cross-border connectivity, earmarked EU funding aimed at addressing the challenges of economic and social convergence, resilience, and security faced by our countries and regions bordering Russia and Belarus and securing convergence of payment levels in Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
Security and Crisis Preparedness
- For the governments of Estonia and Latvia to reaffirm commitment to strengthen our individual and collective defence and fill critical gaps in European defence as a matter of urgency. In this light, ongoing bilateral and regional efforts aimed at strengthening regional security, cybersecurity and crisis preparedness will continue. This includes coordinated efforts to secure EU support and funding, as well as activating working groups established under existing regional memorandums of understanding.
- For the governments of Estonia and Latvia to continue their steadfast support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s illegal and unjustified aggression.
- For the Ministries of Interior to renew the Bilateral Agreement between the Republic of Estonia and the Republic of Latvia on Cross-Border Cooperation in Combating Crime by the end of 2025.
- For the Ministries of Interior to prepare a joint action plan to counter cross-border drug trafficking and organised crime by 15 October 2025.
- For the Ministries of Foreign Affairs to agree to undertake joint outreach in the EU and other relevant formats to promote a unified EU approach to deterring Russia’s shadow fleet in the Baltic Sea. This includes EU-wide information sharing to identify such vessels beyond the Baltic Sea, strategic communication activities and proposing their inclusion in the EU’s restrictive measures regime.
- For Ministries responsible for economic affairs to conclude a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on fuel supply security by the end of 2025 and agree on a joint action plan outlining specific areas of cooperation in fuel supply security for the period 2026–2028.
- For Ministries responsible for managing animal infectious diseases to strengthen cross-border cooperation between hunters in border regions to ensure effective monitoring and population control of wild boars, thereby reducing the risk of disease transmission. Additionally, efforts should be made to establish bilateral cooperation between the two states in the field of animal by-product processing.
Strengthening Connectivity and Infrastructure
- For the governments of Estonia and Latvia to reaffirm their joint commitment to make every effort to complete the main Rail Baltica route by 2030. Both governments acknowledge that securing ongoing European Union funding for the Rail Baltica project in the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) will require increased funding for cross-border connectivity to remain as a strategic priority throughout the MFF negotiation process.
- For Ministries responsible for rail transport to agree that the Valga–Riga segment of the Tartu–Riga passenger rail connection will be integrated into Estonia’s public service contract to enable the launch of regular passenger services.
- For the governments of Estonia and Latvia to confirm the continued joint support for Air Baltic’s development as a strategic regional airline serving the Baltic region.
- For the governments of Estonia and Latvia to commit to jointly supporting the sustainable development of Tallinn and Riga airports to attract new airlines and routes, thereby enhancing both international connectivity and regional cooperation.
- For the governments of Estonia and Latvia to jointly reaffirm their support for energy infrastructure initiatives, such as the prospective ESTLAT4 cross-border interconnection.
- For Ministries responsible for energy policy to recognise the need to deepen regional cooperation by aligning national energy strategies and harmonising regulatory frameworks. A coordinated approach is essential to create a more integrated Baltic energy market.
- For Ministries responsible for nuclear policy to expand inter-ministerial collaboration.
- For Ministries responsible for energy policy to align national energy strategies and regulatory frameworks to benefit our electricity consumers and producers by improving balancing reserve markets, advancing a unified demand-side management market model, expanding flexibility services, and promoting the uptake of Power Purchase Agreements (PPA). The relevant ministries are tasked with identifying concrete joint projects and solutions that can be implemented in the coming years.
- For Ministries responsible for energy policy to establish close inter-ministerial cooperation in the areas of nuclear legislation, safety standards, environmental and radiation protection, stakeholder engagement, and capacity building. The relevant ministries are tasked with identifying concrete joint projects and solutions that can be implemented in the coming years.
- For authorities responsible for geospatial mapping to develop a joint project for a comprehensive re-mapping effort of the Estonia-Latvian border and explore financing opportunities, including through the Interreg Estonia-Latvia cross-border cooperation programme.
- For authorities responsible for geospatial mapping to work towards establishing a Memorandum of Understanding to formalise joint efforts in sharing aircraft resources for aerial imaging and geospatial data collection.
Skills and Competitiveness
- For Ministries and relevant authorities responsible for export and investment promotion to jointly prepare a joint action plan for 2026 by 1 November 2025. The plan should focus on coordinated activities to strengthen the international presence and positioning of the Baltic region, including collective engagement in strategic third-country markets. The development of the plan will be led by Latvia’s Investment and Development Agency (LIAA), in cooperation with the relevant agencies in Estonia. Relevant Latvian authorities will also invite their Lithuanian counterparts to join this plan, aiming to create a unified action plan for the Baltic region.
- For Ministries responsible for economic affairs, in cooperation with SmartCap, Altum, ILTE and the European Investment Fund to finalise the Baltic Innovation Fund 3 (BIF 3) and work towards launching the Fund at the Baltic VCA Summit 2025 in Riga on 4-5 September 2025.
- For Ministries responsible for economic affairs, in cooperation with Startup Estonia and national start-up support authorities of Estonia and Latvia to hold a working group meeting in October 2025 to present current initiatives under the New Nordic Tech Valley framework and identify potential areas for Latvia’s involvement.
- For Ministries responsible for economic affairs to express a common position on reducing bureaucracy at the European Union level, both in the current and upcoming planning periods.
- For Ministries and relevant authorities to explore opportunities for collaboration in forecasting workforce needs in sectors not currently included in existing labour market and education policy studies and systematic workforce forecasts, such as the defence industry. Additionally, the Ministries and relevant authorities will encourage the exchange of experience on how foresight results can be used to design and update education and training content to better align with future skills needs.
Digital Solutions
- For Ministries responsible for digital affairs to establish a close inter-ministerial co-operation to exchange IT governance expertise, coordinate regulatory alignment, and co-develop secure digital public services.
- For Ministries responsible for digital affairs to work together for safeguarding the presence of Estonian and Latvian languages in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) and to strengthen bilateral collaboration in the implementation of AI within the public sector.
- For Ministries responsible for digital affairs to maintain a coordinated approach in representing our common interests in the AI Gigafactories initiative vis-à-vis the European Commission, with particular emphasis on ensuring geographical balance and inclusiveness in large-scale infrastructure investments.
- For Ministries responsible for digital affairs to hold bilateral meetings on sharing experiences on the use of state cloud services and migration processes, explore options for joint negotiations with major international providers, and agree on measures to ensure the continuity of continuity. Additionally, they will evaluate opportunities for cooperation to ensure the continuity of critical services.
- For Ministries responsible for digital affairs to jointly conduct a tabletop exercise (TTX) to practice coordination in response to severe scenarios, inter alia cross-border cable incidents.
- For Ministries responsible for digital affairs to decide on the construction of a high-speed communications network along the entire Rail Baltica route, ensuring connectivity with Western Europe, and use the results of the tabletop exercise to strategically inform the development of cross-border data cable routes across the Baltic states.
- For Ministries responsible for digital affairs to hold regular expert and leadership-level consultations and jointly contribute to shaping the future work of the Nordic-Baltic Cyber Consortium (NBCC).
