Latgale Planning Region LATVIA Ms Iveta Malina-Tabune Head of Administration of Latgale Planning Region NORWAY

Content Statistical data Economic issues and challenges Region and municipalities Functions and structure Decision making Education Strategic priorities Projects Results Culture

LATVIA BORDERS ON: Estonia – 336 km Russia – 276 km Belarus – 161 km Lithuania – 576 km LATVIA-5 REGIONS RIGA – CAPITAL CITY LATGALE REGION DAUGAVPILS – 2ND LARGEST CITY Transit transport corridors: -South – North (EE,PL) -East – West (RU,BY)

IndicatorLatgaleLatvia Area km2 (1/4) km2 Population (1/7) Nationality Latvians: 43% Russians: 40% Poles: 7% Belorussians: 6% Ukrainians: 1% Lithuanians: 1% Latvians: 58% Russians: 30% Poles: 2% Belorussians: 4% Ukrainians: 3% Lithuanians: 1,5% Population density 23,9 per km235,2 per km2 Unemployment rate 16,2%12,2% LATGALE REGION in figures GDP/per inhabitant: 2235 LVL/ NOK4882 LVL

IndicatorLatgaleLatvia LATGALE REGION in figures Active enterprises (13%) Average gross monthly wages 247 LVL (69,8 %) / (or 3’012 NOK) 354 LVL (or 4’317 NOK) Active enterprises in Latgale region (11 enterprises / 1000 people) Riga region – 36 enterprises / 1000 people Europe - 50 enterprises / 1000 people Large – 27 Medium – 180 Small – 907 Micro –

Rate of VAT by economic sector in Latgale region, %

LATGALE REGION - economy sectors issues 7.4% of GDP Lack of business activity Lack of private investments (esp.start-ups) Lack of cooperation between business and R&D Challenges Development of SMEs Business incubations Cooperation, research and development (CBC LT-RU-BY) Investments, exports oriented activities

Planning regions in Latvia Latgale Planning Region

Municipalities in Latgale after ATR 19 districts (Aglonas, Baltinavas, Balvu, Ciblas, Dagdas, Daugavpils, Ilūkstes, Kārsavas, Krāslavas, Līvānu, Ludzas, Preiļu, Rēzeknes, Riebiņu, Rugāju, Vārkavas, Viļakas, Viļānu, Zilupes), including 2 centers of national importance ( Daugavpils un Rēzekne) 5 centers of regional importance (Balvi, Ludza, Krāslava, Preiļi, Līvāni) 7 centers of local importance (Dagda, Ilūkste, Kārsava, Subate, Viļaka, Viļāni un Zilupe) TOTAL 21 municipalities Latgale Planning Region

Aim – to ensure planning and co-ordination of regional development, and co-operation between local government and other state administrative institutions In accordance with the Regional Development Law Founded in August 2006 Legal status from Status - derived public entity Financed by state budget Legal basis - Latgale Planning Region

Functions – Latgale Planning Region Elaboration of Latgale region planning documents (spatial planning, development programme etc.) Coordination of planning documents at regional and national level Ensuring of cooperation between Latgale local municipalities and state institutions and socio- economic partners Representation of Latgale region interests at state level Development and implementation of regional scale and impact projects Latgale Planning Region

LPR structure Riga Riga office Development and planning deparent Rezekne, Balvi Project planning and implement. department Daugavpils LPR SF Info centre LPRDC Vice-chairman LPRDC Chairman LPRDC Cooperation Council Cross border cooperation and borderland development committee Council of Education and Culture Rural environment development committee Infrastructure and economic development committee Health care, social care and employment issues committee LPR Head of Administration Legal and records management department Livani Latgale Planning Region

Latgale Planning Region Development Council (LPRDC) –Decision-making body of Latgale Planning Region, comprised of 16 Latgale local municipalities’ chairpersons and deputies –Representatives: 2 deputies from Rezekne and Daugavpils cities (nominated by city councils); 2 deputies from each district (nominated by district councils) Latgale Planning Region

LPR Development Council represents the opinion and interests of Latgale local municipalities at national level facilitates elaboration and implementation of the long-term development plans and strategies represents the interests of Latgale region on the political level Latgale Planning Region

Main Functions of Latgale Planning Region /Regional Development Law/ long-term development planning of the region coordination of planning region development; elaboration and implementation of regional development programme and spatial plan of the region; evaluation of local government spatial planning and development programmes; promotion of the cooperation of local municipalities and planning region with the national level institutions; Ensuring conformity between national and regional development planning documents; elaboration and implementation of the regional scale projects other functions determined by the laws and regulations Latgale Planning Region

LPR spatial planning Long – term ( ) territory planning document which determines spatial development of Latgale planning region Creates prerequisites for logically harmonized and practically realizable long term development of region Its task is to provide guidelines for development of local territory plans and it is a basis for Latvia Long term development strategy spatial perspective Latgale Planning Region

Functional network of cities Latgale Planning Region

Latgale Planning Region decision making tools 1.LPRDC decisions 2.Advisory boards and working groups in Ministries 3.Cooperation and consultation with socio-economic partners (NGOs, Trade and industry chamber, universities, vocational schools, employers organizations) 4.EU Steering and Monitoring committees (ERDF, ESF, CF, others since 2004, CBC, ENPI) Latgale Planning Region

Education in Latgale region Universities : Daugavpils University, Rezekne University College, Latvia University (Latgale branch), Riga Technical University (Daugavpils branch), Baltic International Academy (Daugavpils branch), Transport and Telecommunication Institute Latgale branch, 3 levels of academic education, bachelor, master and doctors degree Vocational schools : 23

FUTURE functions of the Latgale Planning Region Additional functions to facilitate regional development: –Entrepreneurship development –Tourism development –Culture development –Public transport organization and coordination Latgale Planning Region

Strategic priorities for regional development Latgale Planning Region Development Council’s decision on strategic priorities: Business development (SMEs, business incubators, attraction of investments, capacity development) Tourism development (Baltic Country of Lakes – new tourism space, Bella Dvina, RU,BY, LT) Culture and sports development (culture heritage, join events, marketing) Transport and logistics Environment protection and sustainable use Education and science

Ongoing and future projects –Latgale Planning Region WATER JOY (tourism project, 1,5 million EUR, 10 public infrastructure sites, 11 technical designs, international marketing campaing, 10 new tourism products) LV- LT SOCIAL SERVICE (social designs, social care) VILLAGE HERITAGE (SMEs development project, 0,5 million EUR, 10 villages involved, joint marketing, 0,2 million EUR) LV-LT REGION INVEST (business development project, 1 million EUR, capacity building, support model development project, 1 million EUR) ENTERPLAN (cross-border LV-RU development planning, 0,5 million EUR) – Norwegian Financial Instrument TRONDELAG project, LV-Norway, facilitation of cooperation and experience exchange - Norwegian Financial Instrument EU SF Technical Assistance project (regional information centre, consultations, information on resources` available from SF) Rural Development Plan – TA project (information, consultations ) Infopoint of the LT-LV-BY European Neighborhood and Partnership Instrument Society Integration programme for municipalities Culture coordination project CAPACITY BUILDING project for development planning

Tourism in a Blue Lake Land Latgale Planning Region

Results of Latgale Planning Region activities Successful lobbying regional quotas for diminishing disparities (using Structural Funds Support Programmes ) compare to % of total allocations –Urban priority –Business incubators –Kindergartens –Road construction –Education (vocational, higher education) –Rural development plan enterprise modernization activity –Etc. Support for farmers in the less favourable areas of Latgale has been achieved, including it into the State Rural Development Programme In collaboration with The Ministry of Regional Development and Local Government of the Republic of Latvia (MRDLG) the financial allocations for Urban Priority have been achieved Facilitation of solving logistic problems at Latvia-Russia border Latgale Planning Region

Results of Latgale Planning Region activities Ensuring programming and implementation of projects on cross-border cooperation programmes LT-BY-EE-RU, Latgale Region project data base created and ensuring work of Information Centre of European Structure Fund (EU SF, Rural Development Plan activities, cross border programmes, Norwegian financial instruments etc.) Discussion on the regional issues: road maintenance, vocational education, health care, passenger traffic etc. has been launched with the ministries and national level bodies Supports to local community initiatives for LEADER+ (children playgrounds, community centres, cultural activities, economic diversification). Latgale Planning Region

Culture in Latgale region Latgale – meeting three religions –three cultures (catholic, lutheran, ortodox) The center of catholic pilgrimage – Aglona Basilica (15 August Via Dolorosa) Region of many nationalities and ethnic groups Cultural traditions of Latgale – its own Latgalian language, folk songs, dances, crafts (especially pottery)

Culture in Latgale region The list of cultural heritage of Latgale includes over 600 various objects: castles, mansion ensembles, churches, peasant farmsteads, urban territories. Nearly half of them are monuments of national importance. Modern active, rich and diverse cultural life, i.e. festivals, concerts, theatre performances, exhibitions, potter’s workshops and open-air events, contribute to the image of Latgale as an interesting tourist region.

Thank you for your attention! Welcome to the Latgale Region- Baltic Country of Lakes! Latgale Planning Region Atbrivosanas aleja 95, Rezekne, Latvia LV