PRIORITIES AND PROGRAMME OF THE LATVIAN PRESIDENCY

The Latvian Presidency will focus on three overarching priorities: Competitive Europe, Digital Europe and Engaged Europe.

1. Competitive Europe: Europe needs to enhance its entrepreneurial capacity by promoting investment in new and competitive products and services. Only by developing competitive industry and service sectors can Europe facilitate job creation, and thus also promote social cohesion. Based on its own experience, Latvia knows that this is possible through efficient structural reforms and growth-stimulating investment measures. Main Tasks of the Latvian Presidency: To work on the Investment Plan for Europe; continue to work on strengthening the Single Market; launch discussions and start working on the Energy Union; promote industrial competitiveness.

Main Topics on the Agenda: The Investment Plan aimed at unlocking public and private investments in the real economy; strengthening the Single Market to make progress on remaining Single Market Act II proposals, launch discussions on the expected Internal Market Strategy for goods and services; enhancing the competitiveness of industry and related service sectors- better regulation will be a guiding principle; establishing an Energy Union- energy policy built on solidarity, trust and security, focus on infrastructure, better governance, energy security and energy diplomacy.

2. Digital Europe: Rapidly growing information technologies are providing unprecedent opportunities that have the potential to boost smart, sustainable and inclusive growth for the EU. They also present challenges that need to be addressed in order to,properly seize these opportunities. Main Tasks of the Latvian Presidency: To advance data protection; work on the Telecommunications market package; start discussions on the Digital Single Market Strategy.

Main Topics on the Agenda: building a stronger and more coherent data protection framework, seek agreement on the General Data Protection Regulation and Directive; enhancing cybersecurity- implement the EU Cyber Security Strategy, finalise negotiations on the Network and Information Security Directive (NIS), facilitating initial discussions on the Digital Single Market strategy- eliminate online borders, build trust and confidence, remove restrictions, ensure access and connectivity, build the digital economy; seeking an overall compromise on the Telecommunications market package- find a balance between high-quality services and a reasonable cost for consumers, becoming digital by defdault- advance the digitalisation of Europe, discuss digital skills, promote e-Government.

3. Engaged Europe: The European Union has the responsibility to assume a full and active role on the global stage. With conflict on EU's doorsteps, the situation in our Neighbourhood is as challenging as ever. Main Tasks of the Latvian Presidency: To facilitate the review of the Neighbourhood Policy; move forward with the transatlantic partnership; focus on post-2015 development goals.

Main Topics on the Agenda: The European Neighbourhood Policy with its Eastern and Southern dimensions-priority of the EU's external relations, devote particular attention to the Eastern Partnership; strengthening the transatlantic partnership-conclude negotiations on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) agreement by the end of 2015, advance EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and EU-Japan Free Trade Agreement; the EU-Central Asia Strategy- enhance discussions on security, border management, energy supply, and educational exchange, Post-2015 development goals- focus on sustainable development, with an emphasis on gender equality and women's empowerment issues; remain committed to an EU enlargement policy.