EU – Baltic States, Latvia, Legislation, Railways, Real Estate, Transport

Anrijs Matiss and Andris Berzins. Photo: president.lv

Matiss told media representatives that discussion with the president was constructive. Both officials discussed specific issues related to the project, while the state does everything it can in order to devise railroad tracks, which would comply with public interests.

The minister stressed that the initial plan affected about 4,000 plots of land, whereas the current figure reaches 2,000.

Matiss said that the state must consider compensation not only for property scathed by the tracks, but also for those adjacent.

According to Matiss, Rail Baltica is the largest infrastructure project in the Baltic States of the past couple of years. He urged a more efficient dialogue with residents during the planning process in order to observe their interests.

Matiss also stressed that the majority of the project's costs – 85% – will have to be funded by the European Union's funds, as the government will be unable to cover the entire sum.

As reported, the Rail Baltica project deals with construction of a new 1,435 millimeter standard-gauge railroad in the Baltic countries. The implementation of project could cost EUR 1.27 billion to Latvia and EUR 3.68 billion to the Baltic States altogether. The European Commission could co-fund 85% of the project's costs. The request for funding was submitted to the European Commission this past February, so construction of the railroad could begin in 2016. Further funding for the project is to be provided as part of the next financial period that will begin in 2020.

The initial Rail Baltica public negotiations concluded on March 15. Municipalities and residents from several regions previously expressed discontent with the project.