OREANDA-NEWS. June 09, 2011. Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis held a meeting with the EU Commissioner for Budget and Financial Planning Janusz Lewandowski and discussed current issues related with the European Union budget 2012 and next financial perspective pointing to the fact that Latvia has two priorities – equal area payments for farmers and availability of the greatest possible amount of funding within the framework of the cohesion policy.

The EU Commissioner for Budget and Financial Planning confirmed that according to proposals of the European Commission, the amount of area payments received by Latvian farmers will increase substantially within the next financial framework for 2014-2010. Moreover, it is expected that such agricultural payment reforms will receive great support of the Member States. As regards the cohesion instruments, we can still expect vigorous debates and therefore the Commissioner abstained from predicting the possible outcome. The participants of the meeting discussed the possible impact of the target regions of the cohesion policy and criteria on the Member States’ ability to reach agreement on concrete solution within the next financial framework, as well as discussed Latvia’s experience in using the European Social Fund.

The Commissioner also said that he highly appreciates Latvia’s progress in overcoming the financial crisis. “Latvia is a positive example how to overcome severe recession and return to growth in short time by a responsible and disciplined policy. “Latvia can be proud of its progress and leaders who have managed to achieve it, however currently political stability is desirable in Latvia”, mentioned J. Lewandowski.

We have already informed that the EU Commissioner for Budget has arrived for a working visit to Latvia upon the invitation of Prime Minister V. Dombrovskis.