EU – Baltic States, Financial Services, Latvia, Legislation, Transport

The Foreign Ministry is the most striking example, as it received more than half of the entire funding allocated for the presidency. Like, the ministry paid for renovations of an apartment for security guards working at the Latvian Embassy in Moscow; it also purchased official automobiles for embassies in Japan, Norway, Belarus, and elsewhere. It also bought furniture, appliances, and other merchandise – that have nothing to do with the EU presidency.

The State Audit Office also says that the Foreign Ministry overpaid EUR 169,000 in an agreement on higher rent in order to cover maintenance costs for the EU Latvian Representation office.

Other ministries have also spent the presidency's funds for other objectives: salary bonuses, new cell phones (for persons not connected with the presidency), new windows for the State Chancellery, remodeling the Agriculture Ministry's conference room, etc.

Five agencies paid out bonuses and cash prizes in the total amount of EUR 32,000, with the Culture Ministry the "leader of the pack" with EUR 11,000.