OREANDA-NEWS. On October 29, 2008 Ivars Godmanis, Prime Minister of the Republic of Latvia, met Ernest-Antoine Seilliere, President of the European Business Confederation “BusinessEurope”, and Phillipe De Buck, Secretary General of the Confederation, reported the Official website www.mk.gov.lv.

The representatives of the Business Confederation have paid visit to Latvia in order to participate in the “Efficient Management and Partnership Forum” hosted by the Employers’ Confederation of Latvia and the State Chancellery of the Republic of Latvia.

During the meeting, the parties exchanged their views on the impacts of the global financial crisis on the development of business activities. I. Godmanis and E.A. Seilliere discussed the active involvement of countries that helped to gain control over the situation and the coordination of the activities of the Member States. I. Godmanis informed about the assistance of the Government of Latvia to businesses by highlighting the main points in the “Plan of Measures for Stabilisation of Macroeconomic Situation for 2008–2009”. The Prime Minister stressed that in the current situation business representatives should seriously consider the reduction of costs.

In the course of the meeting, the parties also discussed the relations between Latvia and Russia. The Prime Minister informed that several bilateral agreements aimed at improving the business environment are currently being prepared, and he stressed that, with regard to the partnership, Latvia aligns its position with the common position of the European Union.

Regarding the changes in the labour market in light of the economic situation, I. Godmanis stressed that in tackling this issue it is important to raise the significance of the professional education so that supply in the labour market would correspond to the demand.

The European Business Confederation is the leading representation of the European business interests to the European Union institutions. The Confederation was established in 1958 and currently embraces 39 leading organisations of businesses and employers in 33 European countries.