This week, the representatives of the parliaments, the speakers and the ministers of foreign affairs of the Baltic States come together in Tallinn for the session of the Baltic Assembly and the Baltic Council.

The Assembly will be opened by a festive meeting at Tallinn Secondary Science School on Thursday, 9 November at 7 p.m., where the Baltic Assembly prizes for literature, the arts, science and innovation will be presented. This year, the BA Science Prize was awarded to Director of the Estonian Genome Center, gene researcher Andrus Metspalu. The Innovation Prize also came to Estonia, it was awarded to the manufacturer of timber houses OÜ EstHus.

On Friday, 10 November, the Baltic Assembly Medals for upholding the unity of the Baltic States are presented at the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia). From Estonia, the medals are awarded to the director of the documentary film “The Story of the Baltic University”, journalist Helga Merits, the Artistic Director and Chief Conductor at the 12th and 15th Baltic Students’ Song and Dance Festivals Gaudeamus Alo Ritsing, and the Director of Luua Forestry School and organiser of the professional craftsmanship competitions of Baltic forestry schools Haana Zuba-Reinsalu.

Before the presenting of the Baltic Assembly Medals, the meeting of the Presidium of the Baltic Assembly and the speakers of the national parliaments is held. After the meeting, the 36th Session of the Baltic Assembly will start. At the opening of the Session, the speakers of the parliaments of the Baltic States will deliver speeches. The Session will be chaired by the President of the Baltic Assembly Aadu Must and Vice-Presidents of the BA Valerijus Simulik and Jānis Vucāns.

On Friday, the cooperation assembly of the governments and the parliaments of the Baltic States the Baltic Council will also come together at the Riigikogu. The 23rd Baltic Council will be chaired by the Chairman of the Co-operation Council of the Baltic Council of Ministers, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia Sven Mikser and President of the Baltic Assembly Aadu Must. Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Latvia and Lithuania Linas Linkevičius and Edgars Rinkēvičs will also deliver speeches.

On Friday at 1 p.m., a press conference will be held in the White Hall of the Riigikogu, where it will be possible to pose questions to the heads of the delegations and foreign ministers of the Baltic States. Immediately before the press conference, the head of the Estonian delegation and the Minister of Foreign Affairs will sign the Joint Statement of the Baltic Assembly and the Baltic Council of Ministers.

At the BA Session, the Resolution of the BA will be passed and the Final Document will be signed. After the end of the Session, Estonia will hand over the presidency of the Baltic Assembly and the Baltic Council of Ministers to Lithuania.

Dear members of the press! You are welcome to cover all these events. Please register at [email protected].

Riigikogu Press Service
Merilin Kruuse
Phone: +372 631 6353, +372 510 6179
e-mail [email protected]
Questions: [email protected]