The Declaration speaks about the involvement of the European External Action Service (EEAS) in the consular protection of the European Union (EU) citizens in third countries in the matters of coordinating the provision of consular assistance in crises and joint protection of the interests of EU Member State nationals.

Delegating those tasks to the EEAS could facilitate a more favourable outcome than in the cases when the matter is addressed by each Member State on its own. The Declaration also provides for a closer cooperation among the countries in the field of issuing visas and travel documents.

During a discussion on the EU Eastern partnership issues, Minister Rinkēvičs highlighted Moldova as a success story of that cooperation and called on other ministers to maintain active contacts with Moldovan officials. The Baltic and Benelux ministers exchanged opinions on the situation in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine and about the current topics on the European Union agenda. Foreign Minister also invited his colleagues to support Latvia’s aspirations of joining the OECD.

The so-called 3+3 meetings of Baltic and Benelux foreign ministers have become a regular format of discussions among six European “small states” and are organized by a different foreign minister each year. This year’s 3+3 meeting was convened by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, External Trade and European Affairs of Belgium, Didier Reynders.

In the conclusion of the talks Foreign Minister Rinkēvičs informed his counterparts that next year’s 3+3 foreign ministerial meeting will be held Riga.