Commentary from zemeunvalsts.lv

Events over the last three years that have directly affected Latvia point to an unpleasant trend, which the part of society responsible for these matters is, as usual, pretending not to notice. Specifically, those in charge lack a broad, long-term vision for the country's development. While an entrepreneur might have one, it is a great rarity at the political level. The most important problem is a lack of understanding regarding the interests of the state and the people of Latvia today, tomorrow, and a year from now. Phrases and symbols remain held in higher regard, based on the assumption that repeating the word 'fireplace' 55 times will bring warmth to every Latvian home... Democracy requires an intelligent and discerning society, with which Latvia has serious and deep-seated problems. For example, every restriction on management must be balanced. In our country, restrictions fall like hailstones—recently in Baldone—yet no one has seen those who initiated these restrictions crowding on owners' doorsteps to count out a fair, compensatory sum of money. Nature conservation in Latvia is based more on outcry than on clear goals, and those active in this field do not care, and have never cared, about the state (our collective) purse. Others must worry about that, while absurdities of a similar style continue.

While other EU countries are postponing conceptual decisions on issues related to energy and climate neutrality, or are at least waiting for greater clarity regarding geopolitical events, the Cabinet of Ministers (CM) on 14 July supported an order from the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development (VARAM) concerning a Territorial Just Transition Plan, which provides for the phase-out of peat use in energy in Latvia by 2030.

The decision stipulates that the Ministry of Economics and VARAM will develop and submit for CM approval, by 1 July 2023, amendments to regulatory enactments that provide for the cessation of peat use in energy by 2030. In this way, Latvia could attract funding from the EU's Just Transition Fund in the amount of 184,237,327 euros.

We already reported yesterday that several public and state administrative institutions had objected to this VARAM initiative. For example, the Latvian Peat Association had issued a statement that such a decision is not in the national interest, as energy peat is a significant, traditionally used local energy resource that can contribute to Latvia's energy security and independence, as well as to the phasing out of Russian natural gas.

Following yesterday's government meeting, industry representatives told 'Latvijas Avīze' that such a decision was not a great surprise. It could have been predicted, as the 'disease' of Latvian officials is to take all available money from EU funds without evaluating the consequences in the long term or for the country as a whole.