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The National Coordination of EU Policy in Latvia 99
and representation in all steps of EU decision-making, co-operation
promoted between state institutions, socio-economic partners and researchers,
early and active engagement in the EU decision-making
process. Therefore, these factors might involve the need for further critical
analysis of the current EU affairs coordination system and measures which
would make the biggest impact on efficient and transparent EU affairs
coordination — more devices to develop closer institutional partnership
at the national level, measures giving more active institution participation
in sharing best practices, devices for a better spread of information
among actors of the national EU affairs coordination process, and more
publicity and enhancement of awareness of EU affairs.
2) Efficient multilateral and bilateral diplomacy (i.e. representation of national
interests exercised by various institutions) in the EU institutions
and capitals of the EU member states, and use of the network of Latvia’s
diplomatic missions, with a view of obtaining support from other states.
In order to advocate national interests it is also necessary to know the
interests of other member states and form support coalitions. In order to
ensure a more effective representation of national interests in the Council
of the EU, greater attention should be paid to the formulation and preparation
of negotiation positions. One of the most important capacities
for representing Latvia’s negotiation position in working groups and committees
of the Council of the EU is considered to be proper argumentation
and ability to advocate the position in front of other member states and
the European Commission.
3) Making an impact on the EU level by forming coalitions based on national
interests and shaping national positions having examined the potential
impact of decisions for Latvia. Successful impact assessment in policy
making is possible if a logical compliance between policy planning
documents and decision on the state budget exists, where the latter acts
as an instrument for achieving goals fixed in policy planning documents;
compliance is present between action goals/priorities that are formulated
in the policy planning documents and opportunity for alternative decisions
is formulated in particular policy decision making situations; both
the ministry staff have sufficient working experience, skills and knowledge,
and researchers are well aware of data collection methods for the