Within the context of the Council Working Group on Consular Affairs, the Consular Department at the Latvian Foreign Ministry is organising a seminar on children and family issues in consular work for EU consular officials on 12 May. The participants will be addressed by consular officials from the EU institutions, several Member States and Canada.

European Commission officials will present the EU legal framework for children and family issues, and experts from the EU Member States will share their consular office experience in addressing issues regarding children and family interests. Canadian officials will provide information about the latest initiatives by Canada's consular services for improving consular assistance in cases when children's rights and interests are or can be at risk, and about cooperation with academic research institutions regarding children and family-related issues.

The COCON seminar is traditionally organised in the capital of the country holding the presidency to help EU consular officials deepen their knowledge of the topic chosen for the seminar and to promote understanding and closer cooperation between Member States' foreign services.