Mrs. Zanda Kalnina-Lukasevica:

Youth unemployment in Latvia is higher than average but it is not as high as in western Europe. Total unemployment is approximately 12% and youth unemployment was approximately 20% during the deepest part of the crisis, but it is not anymore. We created several specific programmes for youth. An example, which was quite successful, was that we created a special programme together with our former state President and we called it "possibility for the future". The idea was to invite companies, government agencies and local government agencies to provide internships for youth. If one is not able to get a real job and to be paid, sometimes it is because one does not have any experience. Providing an internship gave people experience in the jobs market. Young unemployed people were very much interested in the project. Of course, there were many other programmes as well.

The question on developing better co-operation between parliaments and whether we need special co-operation between the parliaments of smaller states is a very good one. Sometimes it seems quite attractive to have special groups comprising smaller countries or Nordic or southern countries but I am not so much in favour of having specific divisions because it is a challenge for Europe to stay integrated and not to create two to five tiers. There are many questions to be answered, including how to involve national parliaments more and how to create better co-operation.

We decided to create a reflection group comprising the chairpersons of European affairs committees and we will meet next Monday in Copenhagen.