For a while, there was peace in Latvia from the activity of various state administrative institutions, the sole justification for which was the two words “European requirements”! Too early to celebrate!
Recently (in April), a document was discussed at the State Secretaries' meeting (please see the attachment) entitled “Conceptual report ‘On the governance policy of state and municipal capital companies, the classification of state capital companies, and the gradual centralisation of state capital company management functions’”, the content of which is expressed by the phrase included in the document: “...initiating the gradual transfer of state capital shareholding functions to a single professional state capital share holder.” The report was prepared by the Cross-Sectoral Coordination Centre (PKC), whose high-level “peculiarities” the forestry sector has already encountered during the development of the National Development Plan, in matters specifically concerning the Sector.
In a 34-page document, there is not a single concrete and understandable justification for why such a report has been created at all! There are references to various documents.
As can be read in the document, the PKC has planned a three-level governance structure, with itself (the PKC) assuming the functions of supreme governor (see two paragraphs above: PKC and the Sector), which, given the PKC's track record, is at the very least frivolous.
The interests of the sector and the national economy are currently certainly directed towards stable work, stable flows of goods and money – towards stability. Excluding the influence of a full moon, it is doubtful that we would find people in Latvia or the European Union who could say specifically: “On the yy day of month x, 2020, everything will be as it was. I have already bought a ticket to Christchurch, New Zealand.” How and how quickly the economy will recover is, of course, not only in our own hands but also in the hands of the decision-makers. To come forward with a document that has not been discussed or consulted with entrepreneurs, economists, and society, relying only on flowery phrases or general documents at this time...
Over 20 years, A/s “Latvijas valsts meži” has become a significant cornerstone of the Latvian national economy, employing more than 1,000 people and earning a billion euros for the state budget. (We can speak similarly about A/s “Latvenergo”.)
Two things are of serious concern regarding these unacceptable ideas – the principle of “one governance for all” and the question of “what will happen to sustainability”? Unlike “I think” or “it seems to me”, at “Latvijas valsts meži”, everything is in order regarding sustainability (the balance between the environment, social issues, and the economy)!
And another thing – the experience of the second period of independence shows that “where there is smoke, there is fire”. Is this a well-hidden, far-reaching plan, cloaked in OECD smoke, to get to “step-by-step” privatisation?
We invite representatives of the Sector (and beyond) to speak out regarding this strange and unfounded project…