On 21 May, at a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, a decision was taken on amendments to the Law on the Structure of the Cabinet of Ministers, changing the name of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development to the Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development as of 1 July. The final decision must be taken by the Saeima.
The ministry's name will be changed in view of the forthcoming reorganisation of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development (VARAM) and the Ministry of Climate and Energy (KEM).
Under its action plan, the government has undertaken to ensure that Latvia meets its commitments in achieving the objectives of climate and energy, environmental protection and natural resource management. To restore natural resources in order to combat climate change and to preserve Latvia's natural assets and biological diversity for future generations as well. As part of that task, among other things, by 30 June 2024 the field of environmental protection policy, with the exception of nature protection, together with the related functions and the corresponding staff, rights, obligations, property and budget programmes, must be transferred from VARAM to KEM.
The new name – the Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development – reflects the institution's competence in the field of digital transformation. A ministry's name is an important element that reflects the priorities and directions of the state or the government. In today's digital age, digital transformation has become an essential issue in all areas of the state. From the economy and education to healthcare and public administration services, digital technologies affect and shape our everyday lives. Moreover, following the reorganisation of VARAM and KEM, VARAM will be the leading public administration institution in fields such as nature protection, regional development, the development and supervision of local governments, spatial development planning and land management, the management of public administration services, the development planning, coordination and management of the information society and digital transformation, as well as the management of digital technologies in public administration.
The choice of the ministry name "Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development" would be both well founded and valuable. The word "smart" is closely linked to digital transformation, symbolising technological progress and innovation. The term reflects an environment equipped with digital technologies, as well as the shift towards connected, efficient and future-oriented systems and infrastructure that improve community life and business.
The choice of the new ministry name would be both symbolic and practical, pointing to the ministry's task – to promote the country's digital development and to ensure the efficient provision of services to residents and businesses in the digital environment. Taking into account that the reorganisation will separate the fields of nature protection and environmental protection, ensuring that nature protection receives specific attention and funding for the conservation of natural resources and the protection of biological diversity, the Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development will be designated as the leading public administration institution in the field of nature protection. KEM, in turn, will be designated as the leading public administration institution in the field of environmental protection.