Latvia must strengthen financial autonomy at local level, says Council of Europe Congress
The Council of Europe Congress of Local and Regional Authorities has called on Latvia to increase revenue potential at the local level, align local financial resources with local competences, simplify supervision and clarify the division of competences.
In its recommendation based on a monitoring report by Jorge Sequeira (Portugal, L,SOC/G/PD) and Gobnait Ní Mhuineacháin (Ireland, L, ILDG) on the application of the European Charter of Local Self-Government, the Congress welcomed the opportunities for residents to engage in budgetary and decision-making processes and the ongoing digitalisation but raised concerns about the heavy reliance of local authorities on central funding, limited capacity for local resource generation and excessive earmarked grants.
The rapporteurs called for signing and ratifying the Additional Protocol to the European Charter of Local Self-Government on the right to participate in the affairs of a local authority.
The debate was followed by an exchange of views with Inga Bērziņa, Minister for Smart Administration and Regional Development of Latvia, who stressed that the new Local Government Law in her country provided for more active public participation in decision-making and in the functioning of local government.
Mediabox interview with Gobnait Ní Mhuineacháin and Jorge Sequeira
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47th Session
Agenda – Web file – Photos
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