Latvia’s Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins met with European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek on 1 October to discuss current events on EU and global agenda. Riekstins and Buzek reviewed the institutional changes envisaged in the Lisbon Treaty, in particular the establishment of the European External Action Service and related issues. Latvia’s foreign minister stressed that in the scope of action of the service it is necessary to include also the performance of consular actions in emergency situations, which would provide EU citizens an opportunity to receive consular assistance in case of crisis, conflict or disaster in any state of the world. Riekstins also emphasised the need to set priorities in the foreign policy of the EU and focus more on defining joint position when addressing such issues as EU enlargement and frozen conflicts in Europe. He also highlighted the importance of formulating clearly the EU’s position concerning current matters, for example, in relations with Russia. Regarding other foreign policy developments, the officials discussed the G20 meeting of heads of state which took place two weeks ago in Pittsburgh.