Ambassador Lelde Lice-Licite
Latvian Permanent Representation to the European Union
The Permanent Representation of Latvia to the European Union represents and voices the interests of Latvia in the European institutions. The representation employs approximately 60 diplomats and experts from all the national ministries. They are responsible for the formulation and realization of Latvian policies and interests in committees and working groups of the Council of the EU. The Representation works closely with the other EU institutions – European Parliament, European Commission and other EU Member-States.
History of the Permanent Representation
In the beginning of the 1990s, the Latvian Diplomatic Representation in Brussels was situated in a small rented apartment on Place Vergote. It incorporated the embassies of Latvia in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg (the Benelux countries), as well as representations to the EU and NATO. Towards the mid-1990s, as the number of the Representation’s tasks and employees increased, it moved to a building in Avenue Moliere 158. In April 1997 the Latvian Representation to the EU was separated from the Benelux embassy and moved to Rue d’Arlon 39/41.
Since 2008 the present spacious and modern building in Avenue des Arts 23 houses both the Embassy in Belgium and the Permanent Representation of Latvia to the EU.
Key dates
- January 1992 – establishment of diplomatic relations between Latvia and the European Community
- December 1999 – Beginning of the accession to the EU negotiations
- April 2003 – Signature of the Accession Treaty
- May 2003 – Latvia gains observer status in the EU institutions
- 1st May 2004 – Latvia enters the EU
- 21st December 2007 – Latvia becomes part of the Schengen area abolishing internal EU border controls
- 1st January 2014 – Euro is introduced in Latvia
- 1st January – 30th June 2015 – Latvia holds the Presidency of the Council of the EU for the first time
- Surname Līce – Līcīte Name Lelde
- Place of birth Limbaži, Latvia
- Nationality Republic of Latvia
Education
- 1988 – 1992 Riga Technical University, postgraduate course, Faculty of Engineering Economics, Master of Economics
- 1983 – 1988 Riga Technical University, Faculty of Engineering Economics, qualifications of engineer-economist Professional experience Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia:
- August 2021 Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Latvia to the European Union
- 2016.02. – 2021.08. Sherpa, Foreign Policy and EU Affairs Advisor to the Prime Minister for European Union Affairs
- 2016.01. – 2016.05. Non-Resident Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Latvia to the Kingdom of Belgium 2012.02. – 2016.09. Non-Resident Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Latvia to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
- 2011.08. – 2015.12. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Latvia to the Kingdom of Belgium
- 2004.12. – 2011.08. Permanent Representation to the European Union, Deputy Permanent Representative 2003.12. – 2004.12. Permanent Representation to the European Union, Advisor
- 2003.06. – 2003.11. EU Coordination Department, Director
- 2002.02. – 2003.06. EU Integration Department, Head of Division 2000.04. – 2002.01. Secretariat for EU Accession Negotiations Delegation, Advisor
- 1997.01. – 2000.04. Embassy of the Republic of Latvia in the Kingdom of Sweden, First Secretary
- 1994.07. – 1997.01. Baltic and Nordic Division, Senior Desk Officer, Head of Division
- 1992.11. – 1994.07. Baltic States Department, Desk Officer, Senior Desk Officer
- 1992.10. – 1992.11. Economic Cooperation Division, Desk Officer
- 1992.02. – 1992.09. Riga Technical University, Faculty of Engineering Economics, Lecturer
- 1989.09. – 1990.06. Riga Technical University, Faculty of Engineering Economics, Lecturer Languages English, Russian, French
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