2nd EUROPEAN CONGRESS OF CEEC DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES Regional Development Agencies in Latvia

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2nd EUROPEAN CONGRESS OF CEEC DEVELOPMENT
AGENCIESRegional Development Agenciesin 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 [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• E-mail vineta_at_varam.gov.lv

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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

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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

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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

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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"

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Functioning of the Regional Development Agencies
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