On 8 May, President Edgars Rinkēvičs met with Minister for Transport Atis Švinka at the Riga Castle. During the meeting, the parties addressed the maintenance of the national road network, current issues in the railway sector, including the condition of railway infrastructure and the necessary measures to ensure its long-term operation, as well as the progress of the Rail Baltica project. The meeting also covered the implementation plan for port reform and the status of airBaltic’s preparations for an initial public offering (IPO).
"Projects of national importance do not always proceed smoothly. I call upon the Ministry of Transport and the government to act responsibly throughout the implementation of Rail Baltica and the development of airBaltic, ensuring that commitments made are honoured. At the same time, special attention must be paid to the needs of residents in the regions by providing high-quality and sustainable road infrastructure," said President Rinkēvičs following the meeting.
The President of Latvia also expressed his expectation for the swift approval of amendments to the Law on Ports, particularly regarding the optimisation of the governance of small ports by limiting port boards to no more than five members.
The parties further discussed the latest developments in the Rail Baltica railway project, including progress on the construction of the main track. President Rinkēvičs invited the Minister to present the findings of the evaluation regarding potential cost reductions for the project.
