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

According to the European Commission, it is currently unknown how long the talks will take, however, given that there is not much time left and any of the new projects offered by Latvia will have to be implemented by the end of 2015, the Commission expects Latvia to present practical and well-defined proposals.

Jemberga reminds that if Latvia wishes to use the funds for the implementation of other projects, these projects will also have to deal with the development of environment-friendly public transport systems.

As reported, representatives from the Finance Ministry and the Transport Ministry will go to Brussels tomorrow to meet with representatives from the European Commission's Regional Policy Directorate to discuss redistributing funds from the failed train procurement for other purposes.

LETA also reported, earlier this month, Latvia's passenger train operator Pasazieru vilciens and Spain's train manufacturer Construcciones y Auxiliares de Ferrocariles S.A. (CAF) failed to reach an agreement on the procurement of new trains.

Pasazieru vilciens announced the train procurement in December 2009. In March 2011, the European Commission confirmed that LVL 100 million would be provided from the European Union's Cohesion Fund for the project.