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MFA parliamentary secretary in Latvia calls for preserving media pluralism in digital age

BC, Riga, 23.10.2017.Print version
One of the key elements of the digital age is the preservation of media pluralism, Latvian Foreign Ministry Parliamentary Secretary Zanda Kalnina-Lukasevica said at the conference Re-Investing Europe, which was held by the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium.

Representatives of the Latvian Foreign Ministry told LETA that the conference had brought together high-level representatives of the younger generation for a discussion on EU-related issues in the context of this year’s theme, "Politics and society in the digital age". The Parliamentary Secretary shared her perspective of challenges in the digital age, populism and media pluralism.


"To stem the upsurge of populism in the EU, specific measures must be taken to reduce socio-economic differences between the EU’s member states and regions, and efforts have to be made to strengthen the EU single market and convergence between the euro area countries," Kalnina-Lukasevica said.


In her speech about Europe’s future, the parliamentary secretary stressed that we must not ignore shortcomings in EU policies and the criticism made; we must also listen to that criticism and come up with solutions not only in words but also in deeds. Kalnina-Lukasevica also outlined Latvia’s approach to the EU and its future – to focus on things that unite us in the European Union, instead of divisions.


Addressing one of the key topics of the conference, the digital age, and in view of digital technologies playing an increasing role in EU economy and society, the parliamentary secretary highlighted current initiatives on the EU’s agenda for the development of an innovative digital economy on the one hand, and strengthening cyber security on the other hand.


Kalnina-Lukasevica described Latvia as a country that keeps pace with the digital age and is able to adapt to emerging realities.


In the context of the changes digital opportunities have made to the accessibility and credibility of information, Kalnina-Lukasevica suggested that support be offered for the initiatives that promote critical thinking and abilities to evaluate information. One of the key elements of the digital age is the preservation of media pluralism, the parliamentary secretary noted.


Discussions at the conference also focused on hybrid threat, cyber warfare, the role of data for finding solutions in Europe’s development policy, and the relationship between inequality and populism.


The patron of the conference is former President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy.






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