On 28 February, the President of Latvia, Edgars Rinkēvičs, held a meeting with the Minister of Environmental Protection and Regional Development (VARAM), Inga Bērziņa, at the Riga Castle to discuss regional policy. The topics discussed included the regional school network, the system of financial redistribution between local municipalities, and the work of local governments on the development and implementation of civil protection plans to date. During the meeting, the legislative initiatives of the President falling under the VARAM jurisdiction were discussed. The discussion focused on the amendments to the Law on State Secrets and the Law on Local Governments, which require security clearances for the chairperson, deputy chairperson, executive director, and deputy executive director of the local government.
During the meeting, the President of Latvia stressed the necessity for a shared vision regarding the development and financing of regional services. For instance, the reform of the school network is closely linked to the development and accessibility of other regional services, such as the transportation and road infrastructure, the financial stability of local governments and the support measures provided by the state. Such reform policies must be grounded in data and evidence regarding the future development of the regions and their corresponding needs.
