Government approves new name for Environmental Protection and Regional Development Ministry

RIGA - The government on Tuesday approved draft amendments to the Cabinet Structure Law to rename the Environmental Protection and Regional Development Ministry to the Smart Administration and Regional Development Ministry. 

As LETA was told at the ministry's press office, the name will be changed, taking into consideration the planned reorganization of the Environmental Protection and Regional Development Ministry and the Climate and Energy Ministry. 

The reorganization plan provides for transferring environmental policy, except nature protection, and related functions, staff, rights, obligations, property and budget programs from the Environmental Protection and Regional Development Ministry to the Climate and Energy Ministry. 

According to the ministry, the new name - the Smart Administration and Regional Development Ministry - reflects the institution's competence in the area of digital transformation.

The name of the ministry is an important element reflecting the priorities and orientations of the country or government.

Following the two ministries' reorganization, the Smart Administration and Regional Development Ministry will be the leading public administration authority in the areas of nature protection, regional development, municipal development and supervision, spatial development planning and land management, management of public administration services, planning, coordination and management of information society and digital transformation development, as well as management of digital technologies in public administration.

LETA already reported that earlier there was an idea to rename the Environmental Protection and Regional Development Ministry to the Natural Protection and Regional Development Ministry.