A year ago, the Daugava dual bridge project near Salaspils was proposed with costs of at least €800 million. In this variant, €51 million of European military mobility funding was also planned for the construction of the bridge supports. After the work of experts and engineers, a much more rational solution was found – the bridge can be built for approximately €280 million. That means saving €520 million. Meanwhile, returning these €51 million to the the CEF11+ program led to the the creation of a new “Re Flow” call, for which Latvia will also be able to apply and attract funding for other initiatives important to to the country. As a result, lower costs and preserved opportunities to attract European funding. I emphasize that this was done in accordance with my and also the government's directive - to reduce, not increase, Rail Baltica costs. During all previous governments, RB total costs increased, moreover hiding it from the public. In my time, total costs decreased. Some today would like to see new supports in in the Daugava and hundreds of millions wasted of taxpayers' money. We chose a a more responsible approach.
Important news for Latvia - soon, very likely, we may be able to claim tens of millions of euros from the EU.
Politico reports that an agreement has been reached with the new Hungarian government: it will finally release the blocked funds from the European Peace Facility.
EPF is an EU instrument with which member states are compensated for part of the military aid provided to Ukraine. The total amount of blocked money is 6.6 billion euros.
After the block is lifted, Latvia will be able to claim several tens of millions for support already provided to Ukraine. EU countries will be able to use this money either for further support to Ukraine or for other purposes, if they agree.
This is a very concrete, measurable benefit for Latvia and Ukraine from the change of power in Hungary.
It was Orbán who prevented these millions of euros from reaching Latvia until now. Yet that didn't stop Šlesers from going with his party delegation to support Orbán before the elections.
Jaunā VIENOTĪBA · Ministru prezidente (demisionējusi)
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Yesterday we met with @Svyrydenko_Y as two women who daily bear responsibility for the security, energy resilience, and future of our countries in Europe. We are united by the understanding that this is not just politics. It is a choice to serve, take responsibility, and seek solutions even in the most difficult circumstances. 🇱🇻🇺🇦
Jaunā VIENOTĪBA · Ministru prezidente (demisionējusi)
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I met with @Svyrydenko_Y as two women who carry the daily responsibility for our countries’ security, energy resilience, and future in Europe. What unites us is the understanding that this is not just politics. It is a choice to serve, to take responsibility, and to find solutions even in the most challenging circumstances. 🇱🇻🇺🇦
In its audit of Latvijas valsts meži, the State Audit Office found that the company has free financial resources that are not necessary for ensuring operations. 130 million. These are the funds that @Progresivie will call to be paid into the state budget this week.
A year ago, the Daugava dual bridge project near Salaspils was proposed with costs of at least €800 million. In this variant, €51 million of European military mobility funding was also planned for the construction of the bridge supports. After the work of experts and engineers, a much more rational solution was found – the bridge can be built for approximately €280 million. That means saving €520 million. Meanwhile, returning these €51 million to the the CEF11+ program led to the the creation of a new “Re Flow” call, for which Latvia will also be able to apply and attract funding for other initiatives important to to the country. As a result, lower costs and preserved opportunities to attract European funding. I emphasize that this was done in accordance with my and also the government's directive - to reduce, not increase, Rail Baltica costs. During all previous governments, RB total costs increased, moreover hiding it from the public. In my time, total costs decreased. Some today would like to see new supports in in the Daugava and hundreds of millions wasted of taxpayers' money. We chose a a more responsible approach.
APVIENOTAIS SARAKSTS - Latvijas Zaļā partija, Latvijas Reģionu Apvienība, Liepājas partija · Tieslietu ministrs
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@IzraviensLV Today I discussed the Ministry of Justice's initiatives with the Prime Minister. Tomorrow they will be officially submitted. The PM's resolution said 'within 3 working days'. We're working 🤝
Justice Minister @EdvardsSmiltens reports a symbolic moment—moving coalition meetings from the Cabinet of Ministers to the Saeima. This is said to be a big step for parliamentary culture. But where are the real results? June 1 was their self-announced deadline for submitting three specific tasks. Where are they? 1/4 #IzraviensLVhttps://t.co/NcChyXyQLf
Today is a long day, but a very symbolic and meaningful day, because I had the honor of hosting the first foreign guest at @Brivibas36 - namely, the Prime Minister of Ukraine @Svyrydenko_Y. From the very first minute we had a very pleasant and super constructive conversation about the 🇱🇻 and 🇺🇦 defense drone alliance cooperation agreement, which will give a significant boost to improving the security of our airspace and to launching co-production of the military industry. Tomorrow we are going to @Latvenergo, where together with @ViktorsValainis we are preparing to gift a TEC cogeneration unit with 120MW of electricity and 260MW of heat capacity, so that 🇺🇦 can install it in time and provide the residents of the city of Kharkiv with heat for the upcoming heating season. Thank you to the whole team for the work, @Braze_Baiba for 🇺🇦's progress towards 🇪🇺 and the well-prepared visit, Defense Minister Melnis for the progress of the drone alliance agreement and the comprehensive defense plan with 🇺🇦, @EdvardsSmiltens for the work on developing a solution to extend the status of 30,000 🇺🇦 refugees in 🇱🇻 after February 2027. The entire protocol and foreign affairs service deserves praise for the well-organized visit. Tomorrow it all continues. I will continue to report to you from the MP side about what is happening.
APVIENOTAIS SARAKSTS - Latvijas Zaļā partija, Latvijas Reģionu Apvienība, Liepājas partija · Tieslietu ministrs
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🏛️ Today is a symbolic and nationally significant moment. After nearly eight years, coalition cooperation meetings return to the Saeima building. Once, as Speaker of the Saeima, I invited then Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš to move these meetings back to parliament. Not because the venue matters most, but because the logic of the state system matters. Latvia is a parliamentary democracy. The government is formed by the Saeima majority. The coalition is not the government's property. It is the Saeima majority's political agreement on responsibility before the state. Therefore it is right that political cooperation, in which the working issues of the Saeima and the government are coordinated, takes place in the Saeima building - the place where the democratic mandate is born, where the vote of confidence in the government is given, and where the government is politically accountable to the people's elected representatives. With the formation of the government led by the United List, this order is being restored. It is a small step in everyday politics, but a significant step in the culture of parliamentarism. 🇱🇻 The state begins with the Constitution. The foundation of the Saeima is the trust mandate of the Latvian people. The government begins with the trust of the Saeima. And the coalition must remember where its mandate comes from. #demokratija#satversme#parlamentarisms#valdiba#apvienotaissaraksts@Apvienotais_@LRApvieniba
A year ago, the Daugava dual bridge project near Salaspils was proposed with costs of at least €800 million. In this variant, €51 million of European military mobility funding was also planned for the construction of the bridge supports. After the work of experts and engineers, a much more rational solution was found – the bridge can be built for approximately €280 million. That means saving €520 million. Meanwhile, returning these €51 million to the the CEF11+ program led to the the creation of a new “Re Flow” call, for which Latvia will also be able to apply and attract funding for other initiatives important to to the country. As a result, lower costs and preserved opportunities to attract European funding. I emphasize that this was done in accordance with my and also the government's directive - to reduce, not increase, Rail Baltica costs. During all previous governments, RB total costs increased, moreover hiding it from the public. In my time, total costs decreased. Some today would like to see new supports in in the Daugava and hundreds of millions wasted of taxpayers' money. We chose a a more responsible approach.
Nacionālā apvienība "Visu Latvijai!"-"Tēvzemei un Brīvībai/LNNK" · Izglītības un zinātnes ministre
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It is a real honor to be present at the birthday of the National Research and Innovation Institute, when two strong Latvian science institutes combine knowledge, experience, and people for a common goal. Latvia's strength is in excellence, specialization, and cooperation. Good luck to the NIRI team! @osi_lvhttps://t.co/gYKOVNLkSk
The employees so needed by Ogre are disappearing one by one - communicator Grīva to head Vitenbergs' office, museum worker Jansons with Puntulis back to the Ministry of Culture. Eglīts as a deputy. And if Iesalnieks' wife goes to Dombrava as NP said yesterday, who will work?! https://t.co/XYqAOD3ljx
At the same time, it is important to me that in the discussion on this topic we stick to facts and data. For example, the flotilla participants you mention in your post, who claim to have suffered sexual violence, never actually reached Gaza. They claim these incidents occurred in Israel.
@MStakis@Krista_Baumane You write correctly, Mārtiņ, about them being French citizens. Also I don't understand how one can destroy one's own city. Similarly in Germany. If I'm not mistaken, around 70% of crimes committed there are by immigrants and their descendants. We have the opportunity to prevent this, as the Poles do.
APVIENOTAIS SARAKSTS - Latvijas Zaļā partija, Latvijas Reģionu Apvienība, Liepājas partija · Finanšu ministrs
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To reduce the risks of wasting public funds, we will initiate a review of priority state procurement and the procurement of the largest capital companies, paying special attention to cost increases, contract amendments, and risks of restricting competition. - https://t.co/JPNgP1QE21 via @nralv
In its audit of Latvijas valsts meži, the State Audit Office found that the company has free financial resources that are not necessary for ensuring operations. 130 million. These are the funds that @Progresivie will call to be paid into the state budget this week.
In its audit of Latvijas valsts meži, the State Audit Office found that the company has free financial resources that are not necessary for ensuring operations. 130 million. These are the funds that @Progresivie will call to be paid into the state budget this week.
In its audit of Latvijas valsts meži, the State Audit Office found that the company has free financial resources that are not necessary for ensuring operations. 130 million. These are the funds that @Progresivie will call to be paid into the state budget this week.
Yesterday, Children's Days were celebrated in Doma Square, marking the International Day for Protection of Children. It must be said that the half-empty square contrasted markedly with the crowded narrow streets of Old Riga, where people usually flow to listen to some rapper's performance or protest against the 'theft of democracy' when the Saeima deliberates on the possible denunciation of the Istanbul Convention. I would like to hope that this is a coincidence, but hope is a fool's consolation — I rather consider it a visual manifestation of a long-standing childless policy, whose cause is incorrectly defined life values. Latvia has one of the lowest birth rates in Europe — only 1.2 children per woman. What does that mean? That a hundred parents will have only twenty-five grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. That Latvians are enough for only a hundred more springs. That the problem must be solved if we want to crawl out of the 'red book'. This is a very multifaceted issue, where each person, each couple, social groups may have different answers to the question 'why are we still not parents?', so I do not wish to discuss all sides of this issue. However, I will allow myself to put forward the thesis that the cause of the problem is policy content not oriented toward family life as a value in all spheres of life — art, culture, economy, philosophy, etc. From this arise unjustified political priorities that translate into demographically unhealthy decisions. I will be ironic, but, in my opinion, Latvia's main goal is to reduce CO2 emissions (I remind you that Latvia is one of the most forested countries in Europe). No other program in the last five years has been implemented with such targeted measures, such as the creation of the Climate Ministry with financial investments of equal scale (not to mention Rail Baltica and similar examples, which are projects of much older groundwork). The main problems are air pollution and internal combustion transport. The strategic goal is the electrification of the car fleet. Implementation methods — state support of many thousands of euros for the purchase of a new or used electric car. The average support is around five thousand euros. Moreover, the Climate Ministry has created a new support mechanism of forty million euros. It should be added that these mechanisms will most likely be used by more than well-off people, because electric car prices exceed the average costs that an average Latvian resident could afford. What happens in demography? Meanwhile, the first child birth allowance is six hundred euros, and the family state allowance for one (first) child is twenty-five euros. The biggest challenge for young families is purchasing or building a new home (dwelling area most often determines family size), the number of women of fertile age is decreasing, and the average age of first pregnancy is constantly increasing. The trend is unmistakable. It is even sadder in the context of Latvia's future if we add the one hundred thirty-one thousand third-country nationals who are currently officially (no one knows how many unofficially) visiting. When politicians claim there is no money — they lie. Everything is determined by priorities. Either car or family. The Climate Ministry's budget is about one hundred million euros, support for purchasing electric cars forty million euros. If we gave up such dubious schemes, a substantial sum would be freed up that could cover tax relief for families with children, housing construction programs, increasing the first child allowance, and other support mechanisms. Let it be! https://t.co/yhERQHiCNo
The unrest in Paris is a fact - the internet is full of videos. The 700 detained people cannot be deported anywhere, because for the most part they are descendants of second or third generation immigrants, born in France and being French citizens. Some football hooligans (especially the so-called ultras) are ethnic French. This phenomenon - destroying one's own city - I will never understand.
@Krista_Baumane Please type #psg in the search engine and you will get videos with pages from last night, this morning in Paris. Don't be naive and gullible welcomist! 👍 Free Palestine supporters in Gaza were raped when they went on a support mission quite recently. That's it, for thought.