BBC World Questions: Europe and Latvia

The BBC World Service is holding a series of debates across Europe as the continent grapples with the big issues of migration, the economy and security.

The Baltic countries are experiencing challenges and opportunities. In this edition of BBC World Questions, Jonathan Dimbleby will invite members of the public in Riga, Latvia, to put questions about how they see the future of Europe to a panel of politicians and thinkers, including the Mayor of Riga, Nils Ušakovs; the Chair of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee, Ojārs Ēriks Kalniņš; the Chair of Rail Baltica, Baiba Rubesa; and another high-profile panellist to be confirmed.

On Wednesday 9 March, at the National Library of Latvia, BBC World Questions: Europe And Latvia will ask how the country should use its democratic independence, what it means to be European, and what Latvia’s duties are to the European Union. The programme will discuss the impact of immigration on life in Latvia, and also look at challenges to security and economic well-being in Latvia and Europe as a whole.

Mary Hockaday, Controller of BBC World Service English, says: “The BBC World Service is the home of international debate, and we are bringing World Questions to Latvia at a time when the Baltic countries, like the rest of Europe, face important questions about economy, migration and security. We are delighted to be hosting this debate at the National Library of Latvia, which is dedicated to the preservation and sharing of thoughts and ideas. We look forward to hearing the views of the public and our distinguished panel in Riga, and sharing them with the rest of Europe and the world.”

Andris Vilks, Director of the National Library of Latvia, says: “Since the National Library's inception, one of our core values has been openness – every visitor to the library is a welcome guest and we are open to diverse forms of cooperation. I believe that in 2016 and beyond, openness should also increasingly permeate global consciousness and I sincerely hope that the discussion initiated by the BBC World Service will stimulate the updating of this value.”

BBC World Questions is an English-language event, and the debate will be lead entirely by questions from the audience. It will be recorded for international radio broadcast by the BBC World Service.