Presentation by Kaspars Gerhards, Minister of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Latvia at EP ECR group meeting in Riga, Latvia on September, 2010.

1. EU transport policy and
situation of Latvia
Kaspars Gerhards
Minister of Transport and Communications
of the Republic of Latvia
MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF

2. Transport system of Latvia
MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF

3. Transit part in total volume of transport transported by
rail
Volume of railw ay cargo 1996-2009 thousands of
tonns
60000
50000
40000
30000
20000
54861
51058
48731
35264
40100
52164
56061
41018
37857
33208
36412
48355
37884
53681
10000
0
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

4. Cargo turnover in the ports of Latvia
Cargo turnover in Latvian ports 1996-2009 thousand of
tonns
63645
62434
61980
60042
59497
57400
56915
54755
70000
52292
51843
52155
50690
49026
45034
60000
50000
40000
30000
20000
10000
0
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

5. Multimodal transport corridors
Moscow 4
1
2
3
3a
5
1. Far East - Western Europe – Latvian ports – the Central regions of Russia
2. Central Europe – Latvian border – the Central regions of Russia
3. Latvian ports – Каzakhstan – Northwestern China
4. Far East– Trans Siberian trunk-line – Latvian ports
5. Far East– Black sea – Latvian ports -Scandinavia
MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF

6. Transnational axes to neighboring countries
Transport policy
document “Networks
for peace and
development.
Extension of the
major trans-
European transport
axes to the
neighbouring
countries and
regions” accents
significant role of
Latvia as a gateway
between EU and
Russia (and further
Far East and Asia) –
the only direct
channel from and to
Russia lies via

7. TEN-T program Investments
TEN-T projects in Latvia approved for total eligible costs of
182 million EUR
TEN-T funding 43 million EUR (approved up to 2009)
To be invested over periods 2004-2006 and 2007-2013:
 railway (Rail Baltica) - works,
 seaports (Riga, Ventspils, Liepāja) – studies,
 roads (Riga Northern Transport Corridor; Viestura –
Meža interchange) – studies.
MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF

8. EU Structural Funds and Cohesion Fund 2007-2013
Total EU funds investment in Latvia 4,3 billion
EUR
Total EU funds investment in Transport sector
1,16 billion EUR (27%)
To be invested from 2007 to 2015
MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF

9. Investments in infrastructure development
 Railway - Total investment of 186.4 mil EUR (EU funding of 130.5 mil
EUR) - All investments to be operational by 2013
 Riga Freeport authority - Total investment of 184.650 mil EUR (EU
financing 77.188 mil EUR) - To be operational by 2014
 Liepaja port - Total investment of up to 56 mil EUR (EU funding
41.5 mil EUR) - To be operational by 2012
 Ventspils port - Total investment of 88.1 mil EUR (EU financing 47.5
mil EUR) - To be operational by 2013
 Riga International Airport - Total investment of up to 95 mil EUR (EU
funding 58.5 mil EUR) - To be operational by end of 2013
 Renewal of passenger train rolling stock - Total investment up to 205
mil EUR (EU funding 142 million EUR) - to be operational by 2015

10. Border crossing
 Bottlenecks on European external border

11. EU and National Transport policy
 Strategic goal of the national transport policy (stated in the
Transport Development Guidelines; approved by the cabinet of
Ministers 12.06.2007; updated 10.03.2010), is to provide a safe,
efficient, multimodal, balanced, environmentally friendly and
competitive transport system, integrated into the European transport
system
 Latvia supports the priorities set out by the European Commission
for a better integration of transport modes and innovative
technology development, thus improving the overall efficiency of the
transport system.
 Latvia believes that in the future more important will become
European Union's common transport policy development, focusing
on the East - especially to Russia and the Asian region.

12. TEN-T policy revision (I)
Latvia welcomes the concept of a dual layer
planning network
 Latvia supports Nordic – Baltic Transport
Ministerial meeting activities to establish common
position for the Core TEN-T network of the Baltic
Sea region;
Latvia invites the Commission to start the direct
discussion with Member States
The future Core TEN-T network should be
strategically linked with key infrastructure in third
countries
MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF

13. TEN-T policy revision (II)
Latvia shares the opinion of the Commission that
better coordination of different EU funding
instruments should be established;
Different financing sources should also be used in
order to ensure harmonized development along
particular routes;
However, proposed coordination of financial sources
including TEN-T funds, Cohesion Funds, national
funds and revenues from users is overstated.
MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF

14. Environment and transport
Natura 2000
 Latvia is engaged in Nature 2000 territory
establishment. We request European Commission for
balanced development of nature and transport
interaction, by taking into account also social-
economic aspects.
Communication on a European Ports Policy (com (2007)
616)
 Commission will issue guidelines on the application
of the Community environment legislation to port
development

15. Thank you for attention!
3, Gogola Str, LV 1743,
Riga, Latvia
satmin@sam.gov.lv
www.sam.gov.lv
www.transport.lv
MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF