On February 24, 2012 the forum “Latvia after the referendum: strategies for cross-ethnic cooperation” took place in Riga, Latvia. Forum was sponsored by the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS) with the support of Freedom and Solidarity Foundation (FSF). Participants from various non-governmental organizations, government institutions and universities participated in the event. Several hundred people followed the discussion on-line on Latvian news portal tvnet.lv and public policy portal politika.lv.

On December 16, 2011 the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS) with the support of Freedom and Solidarity Foundation (FSF) held the discussion forum “State support for science-intensive development of Latvian economy – vital requirement or non-affordable luxury?”. More than 90 participants from various scientific research and government institutions, non-governmental organizations and universities gathered at the venue – Free Trade Unions House in Riga. Several hundred people watched the discussion on-line on one of the leading Latvian news websites tvnet.lv.

On 6th of July, 2011 the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS) with the support of Freedom and Solidarity Foundation (FSF) held the discussion forum „Facing the demographical catastrophe - actions and solutions”. Around 70 participants from various non-governmental organizations, universities and government institutions gathered at the venue – Free Trade Unions house in Riga. Several hundred people watched the discussion on-line on leading Latvian news website delfi.lv.

On 11th of March, 2011 the Foundation of European Progressive Studies (FEPS) with the support of Freedom and Solidarity Foundation (FSF) held a round table discussion "Viability of progressive policies in Europe and the Baltic States" at the house of Latvian Free Trade Union (LBAS). The event brought together experts and politicians from all three Baltic States and Denmark, as well as representatives of FEPS – advisor and "Next Left" project manager Ania Skrzypek and economic advisor Matthieu Meaulle.

On 28th of May, 2010 the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS) with the support of Freedom and Solidarity Foundation (FSF) held the discussion forum “Progressive tax system: a modern income distribution system in the mixed market economy or the ghost of communist past?” in Riga. Among participants and speakers of the forum there were about 100 economists, politicians, students, professors, representatives of various organizations and other persons interested in the subject.

On December 11^th, 2009, Freedom and Solidarity Foundation held a forum "Public sector reforms: lower costs, greater efficiency - successful examples in Eastern Europe", which called on government workers, academics, political party representatives, students, and others. Around 100 people attended the event, which indicated the importance of this topic and willingness of our society to contribute to public discussion.

Riga will host a public discussion „New Challenges for NATO members and its partners” on April 21, 2009.

In the occasion of the 60^th anniversary of NATO and Latvia’s 5th anniversary of membership in the Alliance, Freedom and Solidarity Foundation, Latvian Transatlantic organization (LATO) and Latvian Institute of International Affairs in cooperation with NATO, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia will organize a public discussion “New Challenges for NATO members and its Partners”. Discussion will take place on April 21 in the Reval Hotel Latvija (Hall Beta 2). Discussion will start at 9:30. The working language of the discussion will be English with the simultaneous translation into Latvian.

Latvia has two powerful lobbies which influence our energy politics. These are the well known Latvenergo and Latvijas Gaze. Elsewhere there are similar lobbies, however other countries also have powerful lobbies, which balance the influence of energy giants on political agenda decision making.

The chairman of the Freedom and Solidarity Foundation Atis Lejiņš opened the forum. He pointed out the demographic problems faced by Latvia in the coming years and stressed the need to resolve these problems within the EU context.

He recalled his recent participation in the European Socialist party (PES) meeting in Madrid, where he spoke on the need of utilizing Latvia’s untapped reserves of green energy. A different approach is required in economic development, whereby goods and services can be created with a higher added value.

More than 100 participants took part in discussion forum „How to democratize political parties? On the road to abolish political serfdom in Latvia” organized by Freedom and Solidarity Foundation (FSF) on 15th of March in Jurmala, Latvia. During the first session Dr Elmar Römpczyk, Co-ordinator of Friedrich Ebert Stiftung in Baltic states, shortly described the main changes and challenges within political system of Germany, pointing out similarities and differences comparing to situation in Latvia. Professor Aivars Stranga gave a short presentation on history of main political parties during the first independence period of Latvia and noted that modern parties lacked direct contact with citizens and had to face the fact that the era of ideologies, luckily, had ended. According to Mr Stranga, parties should be more focused on creating issue-based policies. Politologist Ivars Ijabs informed the audience about the similarities and differences of political life between two periods (1920-1934 and modern time) and briefly reflected on some issues brought up by Mr Stranga. Mr Jukka Rislaki, Finnish journalist and writer outlined the social and political model of Finland, setting the main tone of the following discussion with audience. It was agreed that in order to reduce gap of trust between political actors and society, a number of substantial and urgent changes should happen in the political life of Latvia. Most of these were addressed during the afternoon session, which showed that representatives of currently main opposition political forces in Latvia – Ansis Dobelis of Latvian Social Democratic Workers Party, Sandra Kalniete of „Democratically Patriotic Society” (MP, ex-New Era), Artis Pabriks of organization „Society for different policy” (MP, ex-People’s Party) and Solvita Āboltiņa of New Era (Chairman of the board, MP) all support proposals for state financing of the parties and changes in election system of Latvia, which would ensure more accountability of elected MPs.