Latvia together with 9 other countries officially joined the European Union (EU) on 1st May 2004 thereby achieving one of the main aims of its foreign policy. Accession to the European Union provided Latvia the opportunity for sustainable development; however it was also an ordeal to be competitive in the free market. The National Development Plan of Latvia for 2014 –2020 (NDP) mentions that during the 10 years since Latvia became an EU member, it saw a grandiose national economy growth rate. Unfortunately the growth was not sustainable and there was a sharp fall. Although growth indicators in Latvia exceed the average EU indicators, Latvia is rated in the European Union as a "modest innovator ", a country with low indicators in the field of innovation. Latvian science has to be competitive at the global level; the academic environment should collaborate with both public and private enterprises to create new globally competitive products. It is indeed the collaboration between science and entrepreneurship that would enable us to create new more innovative and creative products and services competitive in the global market. According to the latest research carried out within the EU on the production of innovative and creative products there is a huge increase in the significance of intellectual property in the EU economy. The conference shall address the following issues: what have we achieved in the past 10 years to take the country a step closer towards the ideal that we have set? There are a lot of small tasks that are within our capabilities and can be undertaken without any instigation or motivation towards an increase in the overall welfare of the state and the society. The key is to take the first step and understand that responsibility towards one’s country starts with responsibility for one’s own actions and life as well as with respect towards others and diversity!
Please, submit papers that would reflect on the following issues:
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Latvia – active and responsible citizen society in the EU
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Latvia – country attractive for tourists and investors
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Provision of rule of law and effective legislation
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Improvement of business environment and competitiveness within the EU
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Development of research and innovation
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Increase in significance of intellectual property rights in the EU economy
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Enhancement of competences of security and law enforcement institutions
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The influence of professional higher education on the overall national long term development
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Successful communication between the state and its inhabitants – the basis for trust of citizen’s towards their country
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Communication development in the European Union
Latvian, English.
Turiba University is located in South-West of Riga, close to Riga international airport. The University is easily accessed from Riga Railway Terminal by train Riga – Jelgava to the train station
Turiba just in ten minutes; by 27 trolleybus or 233A minibus to the bus stop Graudu street.
Conference registration, introduction and plenary meeting will be held in the Main Block of the University. Further information about the University can be found at
www.turiba.lv
.