849 thousand euros for premises in Brussels: why Latvia needs to renovate its representation at the EU

The government of Latvia plans to redistribute 849 thousand euros for the renovation of the representative premises of the country's permanent representation to the European Union in Brussels. As reported by LETA, the relevant draft order has been prepared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The document has been published on the Portal of Regulatory Act Projects. The premises in question are located at Avenue des Arts, 23, and are used for both the daily operations of the representation and for holding official meetings and events. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs explains that the premises have been in use for a long time. Their technical condition, interior, and existing equipment are outdated and no longer meet modern requirements. The need for renovation is primarily related to Latvia's upcoming presidency in the EU Council. From July to December 2028, the country will lead the work of the EU Council for six months, coordinating discussions on legislative initiatives and facilitating decision-making at the European level. During this period, the workload on Latvia's representation in Brussels will significantly increase. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expects an increase in the number of staff, working meetings, and official events. Therefore, the ministry proposes to change the functional layout of the premises, improve their technical and visual condition, and acquire the necessary equipment. However, this does not involve a full-scale reconstruction of the entire representation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasizes that due to limited funding, only partial updates of the main representative premises are planned. The presidency of the EU Council rotates from one EU country to another in a set order. Latvia receives this role approximately once every 13 years. Preparation for the presidency will affect not only Brussels but also Latvia itself. In the second half of 2028, around 250 events of various levels are planned to be held in the country — from meetings of heads of state and government and ministers to expert consultations, conferences, and seminars. It is expected that during the six months, Latvia will be visited by up to 20 thousand representatives from EU member states. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also coordinating the development of substantive priorities for Latvia's presidency. This work is expected to be completed shortly before the start of the presidency. The proposed redistribution of 849 thousand euros is currently part of the prepared draft order and must go through the established procedure for approval and decision-making by the government.