Latvia closes accession negotiation chapter "Transport Policy" [21 Dec 2001]

On 21 December 2001 a meeting at Chief Negotiators level for Latvia's accession to the European Union took place in Brussels. The Latvian delegation was led by the Under-Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr Andris Kesteris.

The previously unplanned meeting was called by the Belgian EU presidency, so that Latvia could close the chapter "Transport Policy" according to the "road map" approved in late 2000, which allows the best-prepared candidate countries to finalize the accession negotiations already in 2002.

An agreement was reached on immediate opening of the EU road transport market for international road transport to and from Latvia as soon as Latvia joins the EU, the primary factor for Latvian carriers. It was also agreed to set a two-year transition period for opening the domestic transport (cabotage) markets of the EU members, extendible in concrete member states by another two years as an exception. In case of emergency, if an EU member state's domestic transport market is in a critical situation, the country will be open to apply these restrictions for another year. Latvia will also have the right to set such domestic transport restrictions in respect of other EU members.

Latvia also gained two transition periods that would allow carriers to adapt better to the competition situation in the EU transport market. One of the transition periods sets a gradual reaching of the EU-required minimal financial standing level for involvement in domestic road transport operations by the end of 2006. The second is a transition period stipulating introduction of tachographs (movement recording devices) for transport vehicles involved in domestic road transport by 1 January 2005.

The chapter "Transport Policy" included negotiations on issues pertaining to railway, road, and maritime transport, aviation, combined transport, as well as horizontal issues in the transport sector. In the negotiations on the chapter, the EU commended Latvia's achievements in the development of transport infrastructure and introduction of an up-to-date legislation. At the same time the EU emphasised the need to continue improving transport safety, especially as regards maritime safety and transport control on roads.

In the accession negotiations with the EU the Latvian delegation took its stand building on the recommendations by Latvian carriers' associations. Experts from the Ministry of Transport ensured constant co-operation with the carriers' associations.

With the closing of the chapter, 23 negotiation chapters have been closed so far and Latvia has made one more step towards successful finalization of the EU accession negotiations in 2002.