Nordics and Baltics seek big picture in Riga

Speaking to the press after the two days of informal talks, Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics said the talks had been productive but there was very little specific information about their results.

However all participants present at the press conference said the format was worthwhile, thanked Rinkevics for his hospitality and praised 25 years of cooperation between the Baltics and Nordics.

Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom said: "Thank you for offering this platform to sit around the table with colleagues and discuss important topics. We have joint views on many different topics... This process is informal, it is not scripted speeches."

Asked about the Nordstream 2 project, Rinkevics said it was "a bad project for many reasons," while his Lithuanian counterpart Linas Linkevicius said "We have serious doubts about this project."

On the consequences of 'Brexit' Rinkevics said "We need to coordinate our position regarding the future of europe and that disussion is starting."

However, the ministers clearly had a good time with the dinner arrangements at the newly-restored Latvian National Gallery on Thursday evening a particular hit.