Minister of Finance: “It Is Not Fare to Punish the Baltic States with Reduced Financing”
On Tuesday, November 6th, Minister of Finance Andris Vilks and Deputy State Secretary of the Ministry of Finance on European Union (EU) Funds Issues Armands Eberhards represent Latvia at the informal meeting of Ministers on Cohesion Policy in Cyprus, where EU Member States, the European Parliament and the European Commission (EC) discuss raising the efficiency of the Cohesion Policy.
“Successful Cohesion Policy is based on the improved quality of investments and adequate financing. Therefore it is not fair to punish three Baltic States offering them in the next financial perspective reduced financing in comparison with a current period. We have made hard work to overcome crisis and return to the way of development. Financing is necessary to Latvia in order to ensure the implementation of structural reforms, which will be a basis for long-term growth,” Minister has emphasized at the meeting.
The meeting is held at the time when active negotiations on EU multiannual budget are being carried out. At this moment it is important to demonstrate the added value of the Cohesion Policy and strengthened result orientation. In the opinion of Latvia, new result oriented elements will significantly improve the quality and efficiency of the Cohesion Policy investments in the next period as well as will provide for an opportunity to demonstrate more clearly the added value of the Cohesion Policy on EU level. In addition, Minister has stated that Latvia has made significant work on the provision of stable economic environment what in certain member states is not reached yet.
Coordination of the Cohesion Policy with different policies on EU and national level is also discussed at the meeting. Latvia supports the creation of Single strategic framework, which would include the coordination mechanisms for the investments of Cohesion Fund, European Regional Development Fund, European Social Fund, European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and European Maritime and Fisheries Fund with other policies.
Latvia appeals to ensure a coordination mechanism between different EU services working with EU funds at the stage of negotiations, planning and implementation. It would ease the negotiations process with EC, providing coordinated and harmonised approach to the planning and implementation of funds.
The preparatory schedule for 2014–2020 planning period of EU funds prescribes that already in December this year Latvia will begin officious consultations with EC. On December 4th EC will present its’ position on the fields of Cohesion Policy investments in Latvia for 2014–2020. Official consultations with EC on the planning documents of EU funds for 2014–2020 are scheduled in spring 2013 but the approval of the planning documents of EU funds by EC is expected until the end of 2013.
Information prepared by:
Sanda Rieksta
Senior Expert of Communication Division
tel. 67095656 sanda.rieksta@fm.gov.lv
