RGSL Rector and Foreign Minister signed agreement on training programme for representatives from Eastern Partnership and Central Asian countries

On 2 June, Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs and Rector of Riga Graduate School of Law (RGSL), Professor George Ulrich signed an agreement on launching a training programme for representatives from the public administration and civil society of the Eastern Partnership region and the Central Asian countries. This will be an in-depth training course on the EU and international economic, political and legal issues. At the official ceremony of signing the document, Foreign Minister Rinkēvičs pointed out that "Latvia, being a country which set out on its European integration course only 20 years ago, is well aware how important and valuable European partners' support has been on the path toward the European Union. At the moment, looking back at our decade-long EU membership, Latvia has unique experience and knowledge at its disposal that we are ready to share with our Eastern neighbours and Central Asian countries". The Minister voiced hope that the training project launched this year would be successful and offer possibilities for continuation. The programme will be run by the RGSL, and engage teaching staff from the Latvian Foreign Policy Institute, the University of Latvia, Stockholm School of Economics and the European Institute for Public Administration. The training programme, coordinated by RGSL and held on the school’s premises, will be financed from the Latvian state budget for development cooperation policy. Fifteen trainees from the Eastern Partnership region (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine) and the Central Asian countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan), as well as Kosovo, will be selected for the course. The three-month training programme will begin in September and include lectures by highly qualified teaching staff, seminars, experience sharing sessions at the Latvian public institutions and study visits to Brussels and Luxembourg. The programme provides grants to the selected candidates. Long-term investment from the training programme is stronger EU relations with the Eastern Partnership region and Central Asian countries, thus contributing to stability and prosperity in the region close to and neighbouring Latvia, which creates a positive impact on Latvia’s bilateral economic interests and security policy in the long run. By establishing such a programme, Latvia can profile itself in the future as an active supporter of reforms in the Eastern Partnership and Central Asian countries, with the intent of setting up a professional training centre in Riga and promoting the centre’s visibility throughout the region. Learn more