On 30 January, at the Riga Castle, President of Latvia Egils Levits met with Minister for Regional Development and Environmental Protection Māris Sprindžuks to discuss ways of strengthening central and local government cooperation on regional development and access to public services.
Minister Sprindžuks underlined the importance of boosting capacity of planning regions to enable their ability to solve local challenges across region and engage in cross-region coordination, for example, in transport and education. President Levits echoed the need to find regional solutions that would integrate horizontal approaches.
Closer cooperation between central and local governments with regard to access to public services was another issue discussed during the meeting. Local administrations should be more involved in decisions regarding the audit and quality of public services. Both officials called for greater involvement of planning regions and local administrations in defining the civil protection, State Police, State Fire and Rescue Service and other public service structures and availability in regions.
President of Latvia also urged the Ministry to pay additional focus on stronger border areas on the European Union (EU) and NATO external border by advocating their interests in ministerial committees and other formats that Ministry works in. Ministry’s assistance to local governments to help them access EU funding was also discussed.
Egils Levits also asked about activities and legislative changes that need to be initiated to allow Jēkabpils municipality quickly reinforce its flood protection infrastructure. According to Minister, the ongoing dialogue with Jēkabpils administration should result in a clear plan of short-term and long-term flood management activities to protect the region from further flooding. President Levits raised the issue of erosion of Daugava bluffs near Pļaviņas, which also needs to be resolved.
As regards another priority within the scope of competence of the Ministry, digital transformation, President of Latvia praised the establishment of a special government committee. ‘Latvia needs a digital strategy and national-level approach to make sure digitalisation is finally efficient. Public services must be more user-friendly to various technology users, safer, more transparent and more accessible. Public e-governance must be lean and efficient, composed of digitally competent employees and leaders capable of managing large-scale IT projects,’ President Levits said. Minister Sprindžuks also underlined Ministry’s role in collecting data to support government decision-making processes in various areas.
President of Latvia commented on national interests with regard to European Green Deal and underlined the importance of municipalities using the targeted funding opportunities facilitated by EU under this initiative. Egils Levits also emphasised the need to respect national interests and interests of the whole society in regions, i.e., Latgale region should also be concerned about protection of coastal dunes in Kurzeme.
