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Ivo Rollis
Introduction
Latvia offers a rare example of a national coordination system for EU
policy that is centred on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). This was not
always the case, however. Although the MFA was initially charged with this
responsibility, the PM took over during pre-accession, and it was only after
2004 that the task was returned to the MFA. Line ministries have played an
important role throughout. At the beginning, although each ministry established
its own internal coordination, as well as mechanisms for the circulation
of EU documentation, officials with no experience of European affairs
simply assumed responsibility for the EU dimension of their portfolios. At
the same time, a central body, the European Integration Bureau (EIB), was
created to monitor, plan, manage and ensure quality control in EU matters.
During pre-accession, a key role was played by State Secretaries in an interdepartmental
committee, the Council of Senior Officials (CSO), and by the
European Integration Council (EIC), a monthly meeting of ministers at the
highest political level. The EIB acted as secretariat to both, setting the agenda
and organising its meetings, as well as providing technical support. Later,
the members of the CSO also served as the Negotiation Team members.
During accession the coordination system worked relatively effectively,
until the final stages, when, in preparing for full membership mode, an
overhaul of institutions took place. The EIB was replaced by the European
Affairs Bureau (EAB) and overall responsibility for EU matters switched to the
MFA. In addition, a considerable number of civil servants who had developed
EU-related expertise left the administration. If, until this point, arrangements
had been mainly shaped by external factors — mainly functional pressures
from the EU — domestic influences on the system put in place to manage
full membership were more strongly pronounced. The system is formalized,
decentralized and reactive, with a clear division of labour between actors
within the coordination system, aimed to ensure that all representatives speak
with one voice in Brussels. The MFA is the central coordinator for everyday
business, as well as in preparations for meetings of the European Council. The
State Chancellery (SC) also plays an important role, reflecting its responsibilities
within the administration. It ensures that negotiating positions that result
from inter-ministerial coordination are consistent with government policy.
This article is organized into four sections. The first describes the context
of the domestic political system. The second part discusses the architecture,