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Commemorative coin of the Republic of Latvia, issued in 2015 in a circulation of 1,000,000 copies. Dedicated to the first Latvian presidency of the Council of the European Union. Minted at the Lithuanian Mint in Vilnius. Bimetallic, diameter 25.75 mm, weight 8.5 g.
Obverse
The center of the coin depicts the official logo of the Latvian presidency of the Council of the EU 2015 - a stylized composition with a motif of water and movement. The image is surrounded by the inscriptions "LATVIJAS PREZIDENTŪRA ES PADOMĒ 2015" (Latvian Presidency of the Council of the EU 2015). Below is the name of the issuing country "LATVIJA". The outer ring of the coin features the 12 five-pointed stars of the European Union.
Reverse
The reverse is the common side of the 2 euro coins of the second type, designed by Luc Luix (Royal Belgian Mint). It depicts a map of Europe as a single continent without internal borders, a symbol of European unity. On the left is a large denomination "2" and the inscription "EURO", on the right is a map with six thin horizontal lines in the background. On the outer ring are the 12 stars of the European Union. The band is finely fluted and has the Latvian inscription "DIEVS ★ SVĒTĪ ★ LATVIJU" (God bless Latvia - the name of the national anthem).
Historical context
The Presidency of the Council of the European Union is a position that alternates every six months (January 1 - June 30 and July 1 - December 31) from one EU member state to another according to a set schedule. The presidency organizes Council meetings, conducts negotiations between states, sets priorities and represents the Council in relations with other EU institutions. Latvia chaired the Council of the EU in the first half of 2015 (January 1 - June 30, 2015) - for the first time in history since joining the EU on May 1, 2004. The motto of the presidency is "Competitive, Digital, Engaged Europe". Priorities: competitive Europe, digital market, Europe in the world (especially the Eastern Partnership). Key achievements include: launch of the Eastern Partnership summit in Riga (22 May 2015), new sanctions against Russia in response to the war in Donbas, European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI).