RIGA - The talks between the responsible ministers and the Latvian Association of Local Governments (LPS) on municipal spatial plans and the development of wind farms on Monday were constructive, but the parties did not reach a common solution, according to the parties' statements to journalists after the meeting.
The talks were attended by LPS chairman Gints Kaminskis, LPS councilors, Bauska municipality council chairman Aivars Maceks (National Alliance), Preili municipality council chairman Aldis Adamovics (New Unity), Smart Administration and Regional Development Minister Raimonds Cudars (New Unity), and Climate and Energy Minister Kaspars Melnis (Greens/Farmers).
The LPS had called for the immediate revocation of Cudars' orders on the partial suspension of the Bauska and Preili municipalities' spatial plans, considering that they have significant consequences and negative impacts on all Latvian municipalities. At the same time, the Bauska municipal council, at an extraordinary meeting on January 22, decided to appeal to the Constitutional Court against the minister's order.
Kaminskis said after Monday's meeting that the union had for several years called on the Smart Administration and Regional Development Ministry to develop criteria to be used by municipalities when drawing up spatial plans. At present, there are still many uncertainties.
Adamovics who participated in the conversation remotely, confirmed that the Preili municipality could also appeal to the Constitutional Court to challenge the minister's order. A final decision on this has not yet been made.
Both Melnis and Cudars stressed at the press conference that the meeting was constructive. However, the parties have not reached common ground. Asked whether the only solution in this case would really be the Constitutional Court if no one conceded, Cudars did not give a specific answer.
Melnis, for his part, explained that this was not about the construction of wind farms, but about environmental impact assessments. He stressed that carrying out of such an assessment does not automatically mean that there will be wind parks. Citizens, on the other hand, may have the wrong impression that wind parks will actually be built in these areas, he said.
Maceks admitted that the parties did not come to solutions and results during the talks. "We probably do not understand what our goal is and what results we want to achieve. We hope that the Constitutional Court will help us to resolve this," said Maceks.
He believes that the municipality has worked in good faith for three years on the spatial plan and has found the necessary balances. He hoped that together with the ministry, they would be able to reach a common result so that everyone has clear objectives and understands what can and cannot be done.
At the same time, Cudars stressed that the legislation clearly regulates these issues. According to him, both the municipalities of Bauska and Preili relied heavily on public opinion, which is not wrong, as there is a clear legislative framework to be taken into account.
Cudars also admitted that in a number of municipalities the development of new spatial plans is in progress, but he could not say at the moment whether the planning of any other municipality could develop in a similar way as with Bauska and Preili.
The parties plan to meet again in the future to discuss these issues.
As reported, Smart Administration and Regional Development Minister Raimonds Cudars (New Unity) has partially suspended the spatial plans of Bauska and Preili municipalities due to what he considers illegal restrictions on the production of renewable energy resources.
The minister has identified significant legal and substantive shortcomings, and has therefore issued orders to suspend the implementation of the Bauska municipality spatial plan and the binding regulations of the Preili municipality spatial plan in parts that, without sufficient data, research, and legal justification, set disproportionate restrictions on the development of renewable energy resources (RES), commercial activities, and the exercise of private rights.
"Spatial plans must be data-driven, proportionate, and legally justified. Local authorities have wide discretion in spatial planning, but should not impose vague, unjustified, or excessive restrictions that significantly limit the property rights of individuals and hinder the achievement of the overall national objectives," says Cudars.
The ministry's assessment of the spatial plans of the two municipalities concluded that the restrictions they impose are incompatible with the RES-oriented economic specialization of the municipalities' sustainable development strategies.
In view of the national policy to promote the development of RES production, the plans contain solutions that, in general, significantly limit the development of RES, contradicting the national objectives of strengthening energy independence and the transition to renewable resources.
In a number of cases, the rules are formulated in a legally vague manner, with subjective criteria to be interpreted, which makes it difficult for individuals to foresee the legal consequences and hampers the implementation of development plans.
EWE Neue Energien 2 has submitted to the State Environmental Service (VVD) a plan for the construction of 17 wind power plants (WPP) in the territories of Bauska and Jelgava municipalities, and VVD has started the environmental impact assessment procedure.
The municipality provided an official response in October last year, stating that most of the planned wind park area is located on agricultural land of national importance, where such construction is not allowed. The municipality believes that the project does not comply with the existing spatial plan and that the zoning should not be changed.
The Latvian subsidiaries of the Danish wind energy group Eurowind Energy plan to build two wind farms in Dienvidkurzeme region, as well as in the Bauska and Jelgava municipalities, according to information on the website of the already dissolved Energy and Environment Agency (EVA).
In the Preili municipality, Latvenergo is planning to build a wind farm in Riebini.
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