On 25 - 29 June the Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments (LALRG) has hosted the representatives of local authorities of Moldova and the Congress of Local Authorities from Moldova (CALM) for the study visit. The aim of the visit is to share with the experience and introduce the representatives of delegation with best practice examples on sustainable development of municipalities and to get acquainted with the LALRG’s main functions, goals and challenges, especially LALRG’s role in negotiation process with the central government.
During the visit the delegation has met with the LALRG’s Chairman Mr Gints Kaminskis and Advisers of the LALRG. Likewise, the delegation has an opportunity to visit the Embassy of the Republic of Moldova to the Republic of Latvia and attend international conference “Innovative Decentralised Cooperation for the Eastern Partnership” organised by the PLATFORMA and the LALRG. Delegation has also visited Jelgava and Bauska municipalities to discuss the issues relevant for the development of local governments in both countries, current cooperation activities and the possible further cooperation possibilities between Latvian and Moldovan municipalities.
The Chairman of the LALRG Mr Gints Kaminskis has stated: “We are pleased that cooperation with the CALM has been really active and constructive since 2010. There have been a lot of investments to establish good exchange of experience, implementation of ideas and succeed development cooperation activities for example, how to provide citizens with high-quality services in the municipality.”
The aim of the visit is to further develop cooperation with municipalities of the Eastern Partnership countries, which are priority partner countries of Latvia in development cooperation.
The study visit was organized as part of activities of the Framework Partnership Agreement signed between the PLATFORMA and the European Commission.