Education and Science, EU – Baltic States, Good for Business, Latvia, Technology

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According to the ministry's representatives, Latvia fully meets the criteria for associate membership in CERN and on Thursday the CERN Council authorized CERN Director-General Fabiola Gianotti to open associate membership talks with Latvia. 

After the signing and ratification of the agreement, Latvia is expected to become an associate CERN member already in 2021. 

Education and Science Minister Ilga Suplinska (New Conservative Party) indicated that the organization's decision asserts the strength of the Latvian science sector and orientation towards an integrated science model, providing for fundamental structural reforms in society, education and the economy. 

Five scientists from Latvia are already working at CERN. Four of them are involved in an experiment using CERN's Large Hadron Collider (LHC) to detect and observe new physical phenomena. 

Latvia's aspirations to join CERN are supported by the Ministries of Education and Science, Economics and Foreign Affairs. The government has confirmed Latvia's intention to join CERN as an associate member.