Latvian-Portuguese relations
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The Latvian-Portuguese relations include bilateral relations between Latvia and Portugal . The countries entered into diplomatic relations in 1921, which were revived after Latvia's independence was restored in 1991.
The relationships are considered friendly and problem-free. Growing bilateral trade and the small Latvian community in Portugal are points of contact, but the most important interstate links are the joint work in the EU and NATO . In addition, Latvia and Portugal are partners u. a. in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development , in the Council of Europe , in the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and in the European Space Agency . You both belong to the euro zone and the Schengen area .
Historically, the permanent Portuguese non-recognition of the annexation of Latvia by the Soviet Union from 1940 onwards was an essential factor in the friendly relations, the liveliest points of connection today in the cooperation in international bodies and joint NATO maneuvers in the Baltic States and the Baltic Sea as well show relationships that are considered less intense.
history
Latvia first gained independence in 1918. The Portuguese Republic , proclaimed in 1910 , recognized the Republic of Latvia de facto and de jure on February 3, 1921 , after Latvia was admitted to the League of Nations in the same year.
On December 15, 1929, Latvia and Portugal signed a bilateral trade agreement.
After the occupation of Latvia by the Soviet Union in 1940 , international relations were officially replaced by Portuguese-Soviet relations . However, the semi-fascist, strongly anti - communist Salazar regime of Portugal did not recognize this annexation. Even after the Carnation Revolution in 1974 and the subsequent end of its anti-communist Estado Novo regime, Portugal never officially recognized that Latvia was part of the Soviet Union.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Latvia regained full independence in the same year. Since Portugal had never officially recognized Latvia's membership of the Soviet Union, it did not need to officially recognize Latvia's renewed independence. May 19, 1993 doppelakkreditierte to Vasco Taveira da Cunha Valente , Portugal's ambassador to Sweden, the first Portuguese Ambassador to Latvia.
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In the course of the subsequent rapprochement between Latvia and the EU, to which Portugal has been a member since 1986, and with the western defense alliance NATO, which Portugal co-founded in 1949, Portugal and Latvia also grew closer. They agreed on a mutual investment protection agreement on September 27, 1995, which was then concluded on July 17, 1997. A road traffic agreement for people and goods followed on May 20, 1999.
On October 17, 2000, the two countries signed a cooperation agreement in the fields of education, culture, science and technology in Lisbon, which was followed on June 19, 2001 in Riga by a declaration of intent for an agreement to avoid double taxation and to prevent tax evasion .
In 2001 Portugal opened its own embassy in Riga.
On March 7, 2003, both countries signed the double taxation and tax evasion avoidance agreement.
In 2004, Latvia joined the EU, to which Portugal has been a member since 1986. Since then, bilateral relations have intensified. In the same year, Latvia joined NATO, which Portugal had co-founded in 1949. The clear western integration of Latvia was thus completed.
The two countries signed a bilateral agreement on the protection of intelligence on January 24, 2007 in Lisbon.
In the wake of the rigid and comprehensive austerity policy in Portugal after the euro crisis , which plunged the country into a deep economic crisis from 2010, Portugal closed its embassy in Latvia again in 2012, which has since again belonged to the administrative district of the Portuguese ambassador to Sweden.
In 2014 Latvia introduced the euro , so it now shares the same currency with Portugal (founding member in 1999).
In 2016, Latvia also closed its embassy in Portugal. In spite of this, bilateral relations remained good, as shown by regular state visits, particularly at the state secretary level.
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diplomacy
Latvia has not had its own embassy in Portugal since 2016; the Latvian Foreign Ministry has been directly responsible since then. Latvian honorary consulates exist in Porto and Ponta Delgada on the Azores Islands .
Portugal has also not had its own embassy in Latvia since 2012, which has since been part of the administrative district of the Portuguese ambassador in the Swedish capital Stockholm . Portugal also does not have consulates in Latvia (as of 2018).
Town twinning
After Latvia joined the EU in 2004, three municipalities in each country entered into city and municipality friendships (as of 2011).
migration
443 Latvians were registered in Portugal in 2018, most of them in the greater Lisbon area (166) and in the Algarve (64). The total of their remittance was 390,000 euros.
In 2011 there were 58 Portuguese citizens registered in Latvia. You transferred 450,000 euros back (2018: 90,000 euros).
economy
The Portuguese Chamber of Commerce AICEP has no branch in Latvia, the AICEP contact office at the Portuguese embassy in Sweden is responsible.
In 2016, 769 Portuguese companies were trading with Latvia.
In 2016, Latvia imported goods and services worth 38.7 million euros from Portugal ( 2015 : 34.7 million, 2014 : 30.8 million, 2013 : 30.7 million, 2012 : 19.1 million Million). The proportion of goods was 20.6 million euros, of which 27.2% paper and cellulose, 13.7% machines and devices, 8.5% food, 6.8% chemical-pharmaceutical products, 6.3% vehicles and vehicle parts, and 5.9% textile fabrics. A good half of the share of around 18 million euros in services comes from the expenditure of Latvian tourists in Portugal.
During the same period, Portugal imported goods and services from Latvia worth 16.1 million euros ( 2015 : 17.2 million, 2014 : 12.9 million, 2013 : 7.8 million, 2012 : 18.4 million .). The share of goods amounted to 12.3 million euros, of which 32.9% agricultural products, 18.9% machines and devices, 17.3% wood and cork, 7.6% chemical-pharmaceutical products, 5.5% % Minerals and ores, and 5.4% food.
In Portugal's foreign trade in goods, Latvia was 80th as a buyer and 90th as a supplier. In Latvian foreign trade in goods, Portugal was 45th as a buyer and 34th as a supplier.
Culture
Neither the Portuguese state cultural institute Instituto Camões is represented in Latvia nor its Latvian counterpart Latvijas Institūts in Portugal. A cultural exchange takes place at all levels, however, through initiatives of private and public institutions and associations.
Portuguese universities are popular with Latvian students within the Erasmus program .
The Latvian singer Jolanta Gulbe Paškeviča also has Fado and Bossa Nova pieces in her repertoire, which is very rare among non-Portuguese-speaking musicians.
Sports
Soccer
The Latvian national soccer team and the Portuguese men's national team have played against each other six times. They met for the first time on October 9, 1994 in Riga, the qualifying game for the European Championship 1996 ended 3-1 for Portugal. Portugal was also able to win all of the following matches (as of July 2019).
The Latvian women's national football team and the Portuguese women's national team have not yet met. The Latvians have not yet been represented at the Portuguese Algarve Cup (as of July 2019).
Handball
The Latvian men's national handball team and the national team of Portugal have already met several times, for example in qualifying group 5 for the 2015 World Cup . Portugal won the first and second leg against Latvia, but could not qualify as second in the group, as did Latvia as third.
The two had already met each other in qualifying for the 2011 World Cup . Portugal also won their two games against Latvia, which was eliminated as third in the group. Portugal came first in the group in the play-offs, but lost there and did not play at the World Cup.
Web links
- Overview of Latvian-Portuguese relations at the Diplomatic Institute in the Portuguese Foreign Ministry
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d Website on Latvian-Portuguese relations in the diplomatic portal of the Portuguese Foreign Ministry , accessed on August 6, 2019
- ↑ a b c d e f Overview of Portugal's economic relations with Latvia , PDF access from the Portuguese Chamber of Commerce AICEP, accessed on August 6, 2019
- ↑ List of foreign citizens in Portugal (by district) at the Portuguese immigration office Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras, accessed on August 6, 2019
- ↑ a b Website on Latvian-Portuguese migration at the Portuguese Scientific Observatório da Emigração , accessed on August 6, 2019
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