* * *  In a year of anniversaries – the sixtieth anniversary of the Rome Treaty and the twentyfifth anniversary of the Maastricht Treaty –, our Union finds itself amidst a debate about its raison d’être and its future.
Second, the story highlights the determination of Latvians to strive for their goals. The crisis in 2008 dealt this country a severe blow. Yet the people here have shown remarkable resolve to overcome their difficulties and meet the criteria for euro entry.