Latvia - Environment

Short-term priorities:

• continued transposition of framework legislation;
• establishment of detailed approximation programmes and implementation strategies related to individual acts;
• planning and initial implementation of these programmes and strategies.

Assessment (October 1999)

These priorities have been met.

Latvia has made progress in transposing horizontal legislation, while continuing to align its air quality, water quality, waste management and industrial pollution legislation. Further efforts are nonetheless required. Greater emphasis is required on implementing and enforcing new standards.

Assessment (November 2000)

The legislation complies with the acquis concerning the environment impact assessment. Good progress has been made in the alignment of legislation on nature protection, GMOs, air quality and nuclear safety. Progress still has to be made in the areas of water quality, waste management, industrial pollution control, noise pollution and chemical products.

Assessment (November 2001)

The alignment of legislation has continued, particularly in the following sectors: environmental impact assessment, waste management, pollution, nature protection and nuclear safety. Several bodies have been set up: the Latvian Environment Agency, the GMO Monitoring Council, the Packaging Management Council and the Radiation Safety Centre.

Assessment (October 2002)

Good progress has been made towards completing the transposition of the acquis, particularly in the areas of environmental information, waste management and chemicals.

Assessment (November 2003)

Please refer to the fact sheets on the adoption of the Community acquis.

Medium-term priorities:

• development of monitoring and implementation control structures and capacities;
• on-going planning and implementation of approximation programmes related to individual legal acts;
• particular emphasis on drinking water quality, waste water and waste;
• environmental protection requirements and the need for sustainable development must be integrated into the definition and implementation of national sectoral policies.

Assessment (October 1999)

The National Environmental Policy Plan and the related Action Programme address the issue of integration of the environment into other sectors. No progress has been recorded in the other areas.

Assessment (November 2000)

There has been no progress in this area.

Assessment (November 2001)

The transposition of Community legislation must continue in all sectors, together with work to ensure its effective application. Special efforts are required in the fields of waste management, water quality and chemical products.

Assessment (October 2002)

Implementation of the waste management acquis has continued, particularly as regards packaging, packaging waste and hazardous waste. The environmental protection control system has been strengthened. Implementation has begun of the acquis relating to urban wastewater and drinking water. Administrative capacity has been stepped up, notably through the training of environmental inspectors, though further efforts are required, particularly at regional and local level. The Nature Protection Board has become operational, but needs to be reinforced. The environment needs to be further integrated into other policies.

Assessment (November 2003)

Please refer to the fact sheets on the adoption of the Community acquis.

Following the signing of the Accession Treaty on 16 April 2003, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia acceded to the European Union on 1 May 2004.

REFERENCES

Decision 98/263/EC of 30.03.1998Official Journal L 121 of 23.04.1998

Decision 1999/854/EC of 06.12.1999Official Journal L 335 of 28.12.1999

Commission opinion COM(97) 2004 finalNot published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(98) 703 finalNot published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(1999)506 finalNot published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(2000) 706 finalNot published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(2001) 700 final - SEC(2001) 1749Not published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(2002) 700 final - SEC(2002) 1405Not published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(2003) 675 final - SEC(2003) 1203Not published in the Official Journal

Treaty of Accession to the European Union [Official Journal L 236, 23.09.2003]

Last updated: 19.11.2004