Jobs and growth remain priority

  • 2012-06-22
  • From wire reports

RIGA - Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis (Unity) believes that the State Revenue Service’s initiative on personal property status declarations has reached its goal, said Dombrovskis’ press secretary Martins Panke, reports LETA. “The received information will allow authorities to be more efficient when combating various manifestations of the shadow economy,” said the prime minister.

Dombrovskis reiterates that, according to the latest assessment of Latvia’s economy, the shadow economy poses a significant threat to Latvia’s competitiveness; therefore, it is necessary to particularly focus on combating it. Moreover, January-March budget revenue and independent studies indicate that the share of the shadow economy in Latvia is decreasing.

“I expect that the government’s decisions to reduce consumption and labor tax rates will serve as an additional stimulus for companies and individuals to return to the legal economy,” says the prime minister.
As of June 13, 122,377 personal property declarations have been registered, reports the State Revenue Service.
Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics on June 15 joined the traditional luncheon hosted by the Danish Ambassador to Latvia, Per Carlsen, for EU ambassadors residing in Latvia, in order to discuss and exchange opinions on significant foreign policy issues.

Rinkevics highlighted the efforts by the Danish EU Presidency in the implementation of the Presidency’s priorities and commended the Presidency’s proposals on the EU’s multi-annual budget.
Speaking about the economic crisis in Europe, Rinkevics stressed that Latvia supports initiatives to boost economic growth and to create jobs. The minister indicated that the proposed initiatives have to be continuously discussed in preparation for June’s European Council meeting, which should provide clear decisions on the facilitation of growth.
The minister also noted that the pre-requisite for smart and sustainable growth are sound fiscal policies and a stable macroeconomic environment. Latvia has ratified the Fiscal Compact and has started the work to reflect its principles in national legislation. “Some countries have made it further than others, but I believe we are united in the opinion that the agreed stabilizing measures should be implemented fully,” Rinkevics emphasized.

In regard to the Multi-annual Financial Framework, the foreign minister noted that, looking at the medium-term, ongoing negotiations of the Multi-annual Financial Framework 2014-2020 should aim for a budget that facilitates growth in the entire EU. He said that measures should be undertaken to ensure external competitiveness and internal development.
“We should concentrate our limited resources on the main tool of internal development – the Cohesion Policy. It will secure the most appropriate and quickest facilitation of growth and job creation in Europe. Furthermore, the Cohesion Policy is one of the main EU investment tools for external competitiveness of some of the less developed member states and regions,” Rinkevics said.

The discussion also dealt with other topics of European foreign policy.