|
On May 25 in Brussels the regular EU accession negotiation round took place on the level of Deputy Heads of Delegations. During the meeting the negotiations were started on eight negotiation chapters named on March 28 this year. The delegation of Latvia was headed by the Under-secretary of State of the Foreign Ministry Mr. Andris Kesteris. The EU member-states were represented by their ambassadors to the EU. Latvia's progress has been proved by the agreement reached during the negotiations, stating that no further negotiations are necessary in the following five chapters: Common Foreign and Security Policy, Statistics, Education and Training, Science and Research and Small and Medium-Sized Undertakings. Thus, these chapters can be provisionally closed. The decisions will be finally confirmed during the meeting of Foreign Ministers in June. The EU has asked Latvia to prepare additional information that would show a more precise schedule for introduction of separate EU laws and regulations on two chapters Competition policy and Culture and Audio-Visual Policy. There is a reason to believe that the preparation of additional information will not hinder the closing of the chapter in the months to come. As regards the chapter External Relations Latvia has expressed a wish to keep the Baltic Free Trade Agreement on the agriculture goods in case Latvia accedes to the EU before other Baltic States. If necessary, Latvia might request an agreement on transition period till the moment when all three Baltic States become full-fledged EU member-states. The talks with the EU will supposedly continue until both sides reach a mutually beneficial solution. The Competition Policy is one of the most complicated chapters, having caused problems to all candidate countries, including those in the first group. However, this could be one of fields that could provide Latvia with an opportunity to catch up with the first group candidates. The European Commission has noted that Latvia has reached a considerable progress and therefore can serve as an example for other candidate countries in the field of competition policy. The most significant step in order to obtain Latvia's compatibility to the EU requirements is the adoption on framework law on the special economic zones and free ports during this year. This law would help to avoid the situation where the compensatory payments would be applied against the enterprises of Latvia's special economic zones, operating in the European market. The chapters opened during the negotiation round of May 25 envisage several benefits for Latvia upon accession to the EU. The most essential benefit in the field of competitiveness is unified rules of competition in the entire European market. It will guarantee security to our businessmen, operating in the European market. The introduction of the EU state support policy principles will provide a significant impulse for the improvement of national state support policy, thus among other things positively influencing also the development of small and medium-size enterprises and regional development. Currently the EU policy is aimed at providing wide support to Small and Medium-Sized Undertakings. The EU has elaborated programmes, aiming at promotion of development of small and medium-size undertakings. They envisage to improve and simplify the business environment, facilitate the access to financial resources and credits, provide all-embracing support to the development of small and medium-size enterprises in the regions where a special support is necessary, increase competitiveness by improving access to research, new technologies and training. The most essential acquisition in the field of Education and Training is related to the total increase of intellectual potential and qualification of the labour force. In future the most successful will be the nations that are investing in the qualitative and globally competitive education. The EU education programmes is a very significant support to Latvia in this field. Upon Latvia's accession to the EU the mutual recognition of graduation diplomas will be ensured, thus providing broader opportunities to continue studies in any other EU member-state. The opportunities to utilise the currently on-going co-operation in the field of education will be expanded as well. Latvia is already participating in several programmes, for example, "Leonardo da Vinci", "Socrates" and "Youth for Europe", providing opportunity for mutual exchange of teachers, school children and students, improvement of study programmes as well as helping to involve young people in the development of civic society. The most important gain in the field of Science and research is participation in the Community programmes that will consolidate the potential of Latvia's research and technology. A good example is the 5th framework programme basically aimed at the development of European scientific potential and closer ties with the needs of society. One of the working methods of the programme is the co-operation between the scientists of several states in implementation of a certain project, thus mutually benefiting all the involved countries. At the same time it also serves as a remedy against brain drain from Latvia to the EU countries. The EU policy in the field of Culture and Audio-Visual Policy is aimed at protection of and support to the local producers of audio-visual products. Such EU initiatives as, for example, MEDIA programme gives Latvia's cinematographic industry an opportunity for development. In accordance with the position of negotiations Latvia will join this programme in the nearest future. The number of currently opened and closed chapters of negotiations show that the progress of the second group countries is more rapid than it was in the case of the first group countries. It both proves the political will of the EU to follow the Helsinki decisions, providing the second group countries with the opportunity to proceed in the negotiation process in accordance with their individual success, and demonstrates Latvia's high readiness in the accession negotiation process. (End of text)
|
