Latvia – TEPSA

Country: Latvia

Director: Andris Sprūds

The Latvian Institute of International Affairs (LIIA) was established in 1992 as a non-profit foundation charged with the task of providing Latvia’s decision-makers, experts, and the wider public with analysis, recommendations, and information about international developments, regional security issues, and foreign policy. It is the oldest and one of the most well-known and internationally recognised Latvian think tanks, and is especially notable as the leading think tank that specialises in international affairs. LIIA’s main activities include conducting research, publishing books and working papers, and providing regular opinions on the latest international issues. The Institute organises lectures, seminars and conferences related to international affairs.

It cooperates with government institutions to provide up-to-date independent analysis on global political matters. LIIA’s fellows regularly take part in national and international conferences, provide academic courses and guest lectures to university students, and contribute to media reports. The Institute has recently been focusing on research themes such as: Latvian foreign policy; transatlantic relations; European Union policies, including its neighbourhood policy and Eastern Partnership; Multilateral and bilateral relations with Russia. LIIA has also devoted thorough attention to various aspects of energy security and policies, such as EU energy policy, EU-Russia energy dialogue, national and regional (Central and Eastern Europe, the Baltic Sea region, the post-Soviet space) energy interaction, and regional relations. Over the past two decades LIIA has published over 60 books and reports and contributed to an even greater number of analyses produced by partner institutions.

LIIA currently unites almost 20 researchers and associate fellows and continues expanding. The analysts are based in different parts of the world, with wide academic and practical expertise not only on the abovementioned issues but also in such spheres as civil society, international economic issues, international security, civil-military cooperation, legal issues, and more. The Institute also welcomes guest contributions on important and relevant topics from political and academic spheres.

Since its establishment in 1992, the Latvian Institute of International Affairs has cooperated with a number of institutions that have provided scholarly, financial and technical support for various projects implemented by the Institute. Among these are the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia, the Latvian Transatlantic Organization, the Centre for East European Policy Studies, the Soros Foundation – Latvia, the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia, the Swedish Institute of International Affairs, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, the Nordic Council of Ministers, the Embassy of Norway in Latvia, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Similarly, the LIIA has actively engaged with its counterparts in Europe and worldwide within various international scientific frameworks, most notably TEPSA. After acquiring a basic operating grant from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia and adopting a more proactive development strategy, the LIIA is currently intensifying its activities. The Institute is interested in a variety of international partnerships and joint projects; it welcomes, upon mutual agreement, visiting lectures, interns, and guest opinions.

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