2nd EUROPEAN CONGRESS OF CEEC
DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES
Regional Development Agencies
in Latvia
Vineta Griekere
Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development
Regional Development Department
Head of Regional Policy Unit
Peldu iela 25 Riga
Riga Latvia LV-1494
Phone: 371 7 026 528
Fax: 371 228 159
E-mail: vineta@varam.gov.lv
Legal basis for the creation of the Regional
Development Agencies
1) Law
for Local Self-governments
2) Law on Territorial Development Planning
Purpose: to establish common institution for
planning
The starting points
· Nation-wide five (5) planning regions are
accepted and created : Riga, Latgale, Kurzeme,
Vidzeme and Zemgale; allowing the created
regions to be considered as NUTS 3 level regions
· Regional administrations will be gradually
implemented by 2005. It is at this point in time
however still unclear and undecided what division
of tasks and responsibilities between all levels
will be applied
The starting points
· Draft of Law on Regional Development is
prepared and submitted to the Cabinet of
Ministers. The Law foresees the creation of the
Ministry for Regional Development and Planning
· Draft Law on Spatial Planning is prepared and
submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers
The starting points
· The territorial system of institutions of the state
administration (regional departments of ministries
and other public and semi-public institutions) will
be re-organised according to the new structure of
planning regions
· Within these planning regions, RDA's will be
created "to ensure the implementation of the
development
planning
and
to
manage
investments"
The mission of the Regional Development
Agencies
1) to initiate and co-ordinate all possible initiatives
and actions that can stimulate the socio-economic
development of the region
2) to constantly improve the level of development
so that the region becomes a driving force in
national development
Overall objectives for Regional
Development Agencies
· Optimal vertical (national - regional) and horizontal
(within national level and within regional level)
integration between all involved in regional policy,
planning and development is guaranteed
· Creation of a strong regional structure that can speak
and decide on behalf of the region in matters that concern
the region
· Giving a real and fair chance for more bottom-up
development planning by creating a strong regional
capacity in planning, programming and implementing
regional development
Responsibilities of National and Regional
Authorities
· National level is responsible for the national
development plan, in which the strategic options
and decisions are taken in relation to sectors and
regions
· The regional level (RDA's) is responsible for the
preparation of the regional development plan and
for the actual implementation of the regional plan
within the given national plan's strategic options
The Tasks of the Regional Development
Agency
1) formulate the development plan and spatial planning of
the planning region in cooperation with local governments,
ensure its harmonisation with the National Development
Plan, the spatial planning at the national level as well as
national programmes and sectoral development programmes,
ensure the management of its implementation
2) promote the formulation, implementation, monitoring and
evaluation of regional development support activities of
planning region significance
3) perform other functions prescribed by legislative acts within
the frame of its competence.
Law on Regional Development, Draft
Functioning of the Regional Development Agencies
Level
Local governments of districts
and republican cities
function
Council of Regional
Development (CRD)
Ministry for
Regional
Development
Policy level
2
.
Executive body
Regional Development
Agency (RDA)
3
.
Institutions of
different
Ministries of
Latvia and other
institutions of
public
administration
Social
partners
1.Co-operates in
all issues
connected with
dev. of region.
Ensures exchange
of info.
2.Make decisions
about reg. dev.
which are
implemented by
RDA.
3.Involve in the
issues of reg. dev.
Implements the
decisions of CRD