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On November 21 the regular ministerial meeting of the Intergovernmental Conference on the accession of the Republic of Latvia to the European Union took place in Brussels. The Latvian delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Indulis Berzins had among its members Andris Kesteris, the Chief Negotiator and the Under-secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Andris Piebalgs, the Deputy Chief Negotiator and the Ambassador of Latvia to the EU. The participation of Edvins Inkens, the Head of the European Affairs Commission of Saeima, ensured that the link between the negotiation process and the Parliament (Saeima) was maintained. The Foreign Ministers decided to provisionally close the following negotiation chapters: Economic and Monetary Union, Industrial Policy, Consumers and Health Protection, and External Relations. Thus Latvia alongside with Malta and Slovakia is now in the lead of the group of Candidate Countries, which started the negotiations this year. Taking into consideration the good progress Latvia has made in aligning its legislation with the acquis the closure of the above-enlisted chapters is no surprise. In chapter Economic and Monetary Union Latvia' s progress in the field of monetary stability and legislation ensuring the independence of the Bank of Latvia is of major importance. Latvia has submitted to the EU party also a detailed schedule for further upgrading of the quality of the existing legislation. As regards chapter Industrial Policy the negotiation process was influenced by the fact that Latvia started working upon the elaboration of the industrial strategy only recently. In the field of Consumers and Health Protection the Latvian legislation has already been brought in line with the acquis and now Latvia continues working at the elaboration of the supervision system for the enforcement of the legislation. Also in chapter External Relations Latvia has transposed all the EU legislative requirements. The positive changes that have taken place in the field of trade in agricultural products between the EU and the Candidate Countries create preconditions for Latvia's retaining of the trade benefits following from the Free Trade Agreement concluded by the Baltic States on trade in agricultural products. Negotiations on the following chapters will still be continued: Free Movement of Services, Free Movement of Capital, Company Law, Fisheries, and Transport Policy. As regards these chapters the EU common positions contain a range of questions and requests to specify the explanations provided by the Latvian party and to substantiate the claims made. In chapter Free Movement of Services Latvia is requested to provide additional information on conditions determining the need for transition periods for the minimal amount of payments envisaged in the deposit guarantee and investment compensation schemes. The EU also suggests that Latvia revises its request for a twelve-year transition period for reaching the payment limit of vehicle owner's civil liability insurance. Irrespective of the good progress made by Latvia in aligning its legislation with the acquis it will be possible to close chapter Free Movement of Capital only when Latvia provides a detailed schedule for further liberalisation of the capital market, especially as regards investments in the security sector and real estate. As the result of the adoption of the new Commercial Code and the measures taken to implement the accounting standards, Latvia now is one of the leading Candidate Countries as regards chapter Company Law. It was also acknowledged that Latvia has made a good progress in adopting legislation regulating the protection of the intellectual and industrial property. Still the practical enforcement of this legislation and the administrative capacity to supervise the enforcement of the legislation still needs to be worked on. As regards chapter Fisheries substantial negotiations are under way as regards Latvia's claims in relation to the fishing regulations in the Baltic Sea and the Riga Gulf. The parties will continue the scientific and legal analysis of conditions underlying this claim. Regarding chapter Transport Policy the agreement can be reached when the Latvian party submits a more detailed argumentation substantiating the need for transition periods in relation to financial requirements for transport companies concerning the installation of tachographs on vehicles engaged in inland transportation. During the meeting Mr Berzins presented Latvia's evaluation of the Progress Report published by the European Commission on November 8, 2000 as well as Latvia's stance on the proposed Enlargement Strategy paper. In relation to the Progress Report it was mentioned that this is the third positive Progress Report for Latvia in succession. The purposeful approach of the Latvian Government and the continuity of the process, also emphasised in the Progress Report, are of particular importance in this context. A support was voiced to the EU proposals on the enlargement strategy, especially in relation to the elaboration of the negotiation "road map". It was emphasised that the preconditions for the provisional closure of the so far opened chapters are in place, and that this could be achieved within the time frame envisaged in the " road maps" offered by the Commission or in some cases even sooner. The Latvian party also supported the idea that, when implementing this strategy, the decisions taken by the Helsinki and Feira Councils should be closely followed.
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