Direct Speech, EU – Baltic States, Funds, Latvia

"We have raised a generation of businessmen that is used to receiving gifts from the EU and other assistance instruments. I would say that we will have to face a shift in thinking – we have grown up in an economy where we are used to getting assistance," said Laucins.

He underscored that Latvian residents should start thinking about how to develop economy in a situation when they are not receiving, but giving assistance. "We are a member state in a number of international institutions and have turned from a recipient country into a donor country," he said, adding that this shift should take place also in the minds of business people.

He explained that in the future nobody will gift money to businesses, instead development projects should be implemented that are able to borrow the money and return it later.

EY (formerly Ernst & Young) is one of the world's four largest audit companies and it also operates in Latvia.