View our special report on the Union for the Mediterranean. 

Within the Union for the Mediterranean, Riga is the northernmost harbour, some 2000 km from the Mediterranean. The nearest waters here come courtesy of the Baltic Sea. Long gone are the grim days of Soviet control. Today, Riga’s port is thriving, with 4000 ships passing through its docks every year.
 

Linking Northern Europe to the vast Russian markets, Riga's harbour has become a crucial commercial node. It's a sunny day in July – we could almost be on the French Riviera. Yet, Riga has retained its distinctly Nordic features.

Fifteen years ago, Latvia became a proud member of a very exclusive club: the council of Baltic States, a bloc of countries bordering the council's namesake sea. Its 10 members are united in history as well as in common interests. Riga currently holds the revolving presidency.

Latvia has other membership cards to add to its collection. It is part of the European Union and, by default, a member of the Union for the Mediterranean. The concept rather amuses people here, although that’s not to say Latvians don’t recognise its financial benefits through the prospect of newer and bigger markets.

We move deeper into the Latvian countryside. There are more forests than people in this part of the world. It's no coincidence then that wood makes up 30 per cent of Latvia’s export. Access to the southern Mediterranean shores may well see that figure rise.

As it stands, it takes at least 12 days for wood shipments to travel across Europe and reach the Mediterranean states. Authorities are looking into new ways to halve that journey. A canal is currently being built that will link the Baltic to the Black Sea, retracing the Vikings’ steps, 10 centuries later…

Click on the links to view our other reportages on Mediterranean harbours:

- The Bosphorus, by the waters of the EU

- Haifa, port of amity

- Marseille, overlooking the Med