Ministry of Finance together with partners discussed future of cohesion policy

Ministry of Finance together with partners discussed future of cohesion policy

On September 6, under the guidance of the Minister for Special Assignments for Administration of European Union Funds Normunds Broks public discussion was held on Fourth Economic and Social Cohesion Report within the framework of which the Ministry of Finance (MoF) presented the report of European Commission (EC) and draft position of Latvia on it, as well as discussed future of cohesion fund after 2017 with social, regional and NGO partners and EU fund managing institutions.

Most intensive discussions were about three challenges in the future of cohesion policy and EU social and economic development identified in the Fourth Cohesion Report – demographic situation, global competitiveness, energy and climate changes. State administration institutions involved in the EU fund administration, as well as social, regional and NGO partners – Riga planning region, Kurzeme planning region, Vidzeme planning region, Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise and Craft Council and others expressed their opinions on the document.
  
Representative of the Ministry of Education and Science expressed an opinion that emphasis in the cohesion policy at national level in future shall be put on demographic situation in Latvia – improvement of workforce skills and raising the productivity of labour by supporting modernisation of public infrastructure, in its turn, the Ministry of Environment expressed a view that environmental and climatic issues shall not be put lower than demographic situation and global competitiveness, because this challenge do significantly influence development of other technical sectors.
  
During the discussion, the Ministry of Regional Development and Local Government (MRDLG) paid attention to the fact that position of Latvia on the Fourth Cohesion Report shall also be based on national long-term strategy at which the MRDLG is working now, also it is important while preparing the position to evaluate interaction between Cohesion Policy and Lisbon Strategy.   
     
Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments (LALRG) informed that LALRG has asked all local governments to submit their proposals on Latvia’s position on Fourth Cohesion Policy Report, which in a gathered form will be submitted to the MoF.
State Employment Agency paid attention both to the demographic situation and human resources quality aspect, underlining great difference between work force competence in Latvia and old EU Member States.

Till October 10, everyone is asked to express opinion on the EC report and Latvia’s draft opinion on it. After submitted opinions will be gathered the Minister for Special Assignments for Administration of European Union Funds Normunds Broks will represent Latvia in Cohesion Forum for discussions about this document which will be held on September 27-28 in Brussels. The discussions are expected to be extensive – EC meetings are planned at least till the end of this year. 
    
For information – Fourth Economic and Social Cohesion prepared by the European Commission is an analytical document about achievements and challenges of one of the main Community policies – Regional Policy, which is directed towards discussions about Cohesion Policy development in the context of EU budget revision in 2008/2009 and preparation of long-term budget (starting from 2014) for the next period.

The report is available in Latvian at http://www.esfondi.lv/upload/04-kohezijas_politikas_nakotne/4.kohezijas_zinojuma_publ_apspriede_2007-08-27.pdf.   

Information in English at
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/com/2007/com2007_0273en01.pdf
http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docoffic/official/reports/cohesion4/pdf/4cr_en.pdf
http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docoffic/official/reports/cohesion4/index_en.htm

Cohesion Policy is one of the most important policies in Latvia because it foresees significant financial aid for Latvia from the EU budget through EU structural funds and Cohesion fund not only for 2004-2006 and 2007-2013 but also further.