Latest EU budget proposal offers no changes for Latvia

BRUSSELS - European Council President Herman Van Rompuy has put forward a new proposal for the European Union's next seven-year budget, which offers no changes regarding Latvia's two key priorities - direct farming payments and cohesion funding, LETA sources inform.

Van Rompuy proposes that the ceiling on cohesion funding for Latvia be set at 2.59 percent of gross domestic product, or 4.2 billion euros, and that direct area payments to Latvian farmers increase to 196 euros, or approximately 80 percent of the EU average, by 2020.

Consultations on the new proposal have resumed in Brussels, where Latvia is represented by Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis (Unity).

During the EU leaders' debates, which are proceeding behind closed doors, Dombrovskis has criticized Van Rompuy's proposal as unacceptable, explaining Latvia's position and presenting a number of reasons and arguments why his latest proposal could not be accepted.