Mrs. Zanda Kalnina-Lukasevica:

When one speaks of a single currency, one also speaks of a single European entity. This means closer integration and greater solidarity. We are all aware of the problems arising from proposals to reduce the cohesion policy envelopes for member states. Solidarity is also tied with job creation in regions and countries. In previous years we did considerable work aimed at assisting economic development in the most depressed region of Latvia which is located on the border with Russia and Belarus. This required the creation of several new programmes and the implementation of a number of structural reforms. We used Cohesion Fund moneys and redesigned investment from cohesion policy to enhance the ability of people in the region to set up their own companies. What was needed was a specific education and training programme to improve human capital in the region. We used Cohesion Fund moneys to provide this training and create specific education programmes. A second element was reducing bureaucratic barriers. We introduced a new form of enterprise - micro-enterprise - and it is now possible to set up a micro-enterprise for 1 lat, which is equivalent to €1.50. Previously, setting up a company cost approximately 2,000 lats or €3,000.