The Saeima gives a “green light” to Latvia’s development plan for the next 7 years / Article / LSM.lv

The Saeima approves the National Development Plan for 2021-2027. yearJānis Kincis00:00 / 02:55

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During the debate in the plenary sitting of the Saeima, the document of more than 500 pages was assessed as general and declarative, but necessary. The head of the Saeima Sustainable Development Commission Vyacheslav Dombrovskis (“Harmony”) emphasized that the adoption of the plan is only a starting shot for the implementation of the plan and many changes.

“In the 1990s, Latvia decided to abandon serious industry, allowing its role to shrink significantly. Latvia focused on transit and the role of an international financial services center, but there is a consistent decline in transit. So the questions arise: what will be the next engine of Latvia’s development? will it develop on its own?

Our country, colleagues, is facing very serious challenges. Will NAP2027 be able to offer adequate solutions? “Dombrovskis asked.

The development and improvement of NAP2027 has taken place in dozens of meetings with the participation of representatives of state institutions, local governments and entrepreneurs. The discussions often highlight the differences between the capital and the regions, which does not promote job creation and raises the question of how to implement one of the plan’s goals – to increase the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, said Dana, a member of the Greens and Farmers’ Union opposition Reizniece-Ozola.

“This can be done in various ways, both by increasing productivity and economic development, and at the expense of declining population. Until recently, the administrative-territorial reform showed that after moving the borders, it is not clear how to strengthen economic activity in these administrative-territorial units,” she said.

The new NDP sets out four strategic objectives:

• equal opportunities;
• productivity and income;
• social trust;
• regional development.

The last goal of the NDP is included in accordance with the recommendation of the Saeima deputies.

The NAP2027 also identifies six priorities, including a high-quality living environment and territorial development, for the solutions of which the plan provides the largest funding – 49% of the total. This priority also includes the Rail Baltica project.

Specific funding is planned for the implementation of each NAP2027 measure. True, the implementation of all the initiatives received in the development of the plan should more than € 40 billion – Dombrovskis noted four times the amount available.

The Cross-sectoral Coordination Center (PKC) responsible for the development of the NDP informed that the implementation of the 124 tasks set in the six priorities of the NAP2027 in a total of 18 action directions in 2021-2027. Approximately EUR 14.5 billion is available in 2007 from the development part of the state budget, the European Union structural funds and other financial sources. An indicative set of investment measures with 369 measures has been evaluated and developed. Responsible and co-responsible persons have been determined for each implemented measure, PKC indicated.

“Special attention is paid to the field of health care, economic recovery and regional development,” Dombrovskis added.

NAP2027 has been developed with the participation of the public, industry representatives, experts, scientists, representatives of public organizations, public administration and local governments, entrepreneurs and politicians have participated in discussions in all regions of Latvia. PKC work on NAP2027 completed in early February, bet the government endorsed the plan at a meeting in late February.

Taking into account that NAP2027 was developed and submitted to the Saeima before the emergency situation caused by Covid-19 in Latvia, the Saeima, approving NAP2027, adopted a decision with tasks for the Cabinet of Ministers in the fields of health care and public safety, social protection and equal opportunities and economy situation, PKC pointed out.

“If we want to make it really easier to be healthy in Latvia, as envisaged in the NDP, funding for health care must be significantly increased every year in the future. Then the plan will focus on the person and his quality of life,” said Saeima deputy Daniels Pavļuts .

The NAP2027 approved by the Saeima is available on the parliamentary website here. The Covid-19 crisis has already begun pending NDP projects.

CONTEXT:

The NDP serves as a roadmap for policy makers on the country’s development vision and the necessary investment projects for the next seven years. The current NDP – from 2014 to 2020 – fulfilled by 61%, its guiding principle was “Economic Breakthrough”. Among other things, the goal was to make Latvia as the greenest country in the world.

Infographic: Interdepartmental Coordination Center

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