In order to evaluate THE reform, the municipality of Rezekne proposes to form a working group

On 21 March 2019, the Saeima of the Republic of Latvia adopted a decision “on the continuation of administrative territorial reform”, namely to continue the administrative territorial reform launched in 1998 (hereinafter – territorial reform) and to establish, by 2021, economically developed administrative territories with local authorities capable of ensuring the fulfilment of the autonomous functions of the laws in comparable quality and accessibility and providing quality services to citizens at reasonable cost. Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development has drawn up an information report “on the administrative territorial division of the public consultation”
This model offers the territory of Latvia to be divided into 35 municipalities in place of 119, including the merger of the city of Rezekne, the municipality of Rezekne and THE municipalities of Viļānu.
In addition to the territorial reform setting laid down in the Saeima decision, the following objectives for ensuring the state development and the welfare of the population are set:
1) improve the economic growth and competitiveness of state and local governments;
2) to ensure the rational utilisation of State budget resources in the operation of all public administration;
3) to establish a system of equal and sustainable local government activity, regional and national development centres with their rural areas in a single administrative, economic and economic unit, thus creating better preconditions for economic development and access to services for the population;
4) to create mechanisms for the more efficient operation of municipalities and municipalities of the municipality, with greater involvement of the population of the relevant territories;
5) strengthening the autonomy and capacity of local governments, ensuring compliance with the principle of subsidiarity;
6) to provide an attractive environment for investment and job creation, thereby achieving competitive remuneration and reducing emigration;
7) to ensure that the functions assigned to them in laws are performed independently.
Following the initiative of the municipality of Rēzekne, a joint working group was established with Rēzekne City Council and Viļānu municipality council to assess the information report of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development “on the administrative territorial division of the public consultation”. Five specialists of the relevant field were delegated from each local government working group (executive director of the local government, head of the development planning department, head of educational administration, etc.).
The Working Party must assess whether the creation of a new administrative area will ensure the achievement of the objectives of the reform.
The municipality of Rezekne calls on the municipality to meet the information report of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development “on the administrative territorial division of the public consultation” and to express its opinion on administrative territorial reform by sending information to the e-mail majaslapai@rezeknesnovads.lv
Information prepared by: Diana Selecka, Public relations specialist of the municipality of Rezekne