Cooperation among ministries should be improved in energy independence, digitization and Green Deal

RIGA - Latvia needs to improve horizontal cooperation among ministries, especially on issues such as energy independence, digitization and the Green Deal., Latvian President Egils Levits believes.

On September 7, Levits met with representatives of the Foreign Investors’ Council in Latvia (FICIL) to discuss issues which are crucial for improving the business environment and attracting investments to Latvia, with a main focus on state governance and the quality of the legislative process. The President of Latvia and the representatives of FICIL were in agreement that change is needed in state governance to promote its efficiency and facilitate inter-sectoral cooperation.

“Latvia needs to improve horizontal cooperation among ministries, especially on issues such as energy independence, digitization and the Green Deal. Furthermore, there should be an official at the Cabinet of Ministers with the political responsibility to take part in resolving these issues,” President Levits noted.

Levits concurred with the recommendations of FICIL for improving the quality of the legislative process envisioning constant and careful consideration of the opinions issued by the Constitutional Court, exclusion of the possibility to hold insufficient parliamentary debates over draft laws, submit belated draft law proposals and insufficient draft law impact assessments.

The President of Latvia and the representatives of FICIL also discussed the upcoming election, the future objectives of the state to improve the level of living of the population, and the professional skills of the heads of state institutions. The issue of responsibility for attaining or failing to attain the objectives set out in strategic plans and policy documents was also discussed.