On 27 February Latvia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Edgars Rinkēvičs, met with the Minister of State for European Affairs of Ireland, Helen McEntee, who was in Riga on a visit, the Foreign Ministry said.

At the meeting, the ministers discussed cooperation between the two countries and issues such as Brexit, the EU Multiannual Financial Framework for 2012–2027, transatlantic relations and cooperation in international organisations.

The ministers agreed that Latvia and Ireland were like-minded on many matters and that "close cooperation should be maintained, including in a broader format together with the Baltic and Nordic countries."

Rinkēvičs "highlighted Latvia’s solidarity with Ireland in the context of Brexit as concerns legal guarantees against restoring a physical border between Ireland and Northern Ireland, a part of the United Kingdom, after the latter leaves the European Union," the ministry said.

The Irish Minister of State said she was aware how important it was for Latvia that the EU budget retain the focus on socio-economic convergence among EU Member States and regions. Ireland too has successfully used Cohesion Policy instruments for building prosperity in the country; it therefore understands the need for continued investments form EU structural funds in the countries and regions whose level of development is below the EU average.

A very good meeting today

with Irish Minister for European Affairs @HMcEntee , discussed #Brexit, #MFF, future of the EU, action plan against disinformation. ?? ?? ?? pic.twitter.com/QB7vb185A7 — Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica (@ZKLukasevica) February 27, 2019

As part of her visit, McEntee also had meetings with MPs and held a conversation with the Foreign Ministry’s Parliamentary Secretary, Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica. The discussions addressed the topics such as Europe’s future and the fight against disinformation, and issues concerning the Latvian community in Ireland. The Latvian officials stressed the need for continuing good cooperation with Irish authorities to deal with matters highly important for the diaspora.

It is estimated that around 40,000 Latvians live in Ireland.