Latvia: membership application and partnership, 13 October 1995

PURPOSE: presentation of the second accession partnership for Latvia. CONTENT : Like its previous version, this partnership for the accession of Latvia resembles a work programme proposing priorities and objectives to be attained by the country in the short and the medium-term in order to become a member of the Union. These objectives take into account the regular report on Latvia (1999). The short-term priorities (end of 2000) concern political criteria (alignment of legislation concerning language with international standards and the Europe Agreement and better integration of non-citizens) and economic criteria (restructuring of companies using a market-oriented logic, further privatisation and property reform); the internal market (principally, further alignment); agriculture; transport; environment (introduction of framework legislation); social affairs and employment; justice and home affairs (improved border surveillance and information infrastructures) and the strengthening of administrative and judicial capacity (in particular in the management and control of EU funds). In the medium term, the measures will concern the integration of the non-citizens and further restructuring of companies. In the area of the single market, intellectual property protection is considered essential, as well as further alignment and the strengthening of border controls. Other measures are awaited in the area of agriculture, fisheries, energy (transposition of the main Community Gas and Electricity Directives), transport, environment and justice and home affairs (cooperation with EUROPOL). With regard to the programming of financial resources, the partnership confirms aid granted in line with AGENDA 2000 and the various instruments provided therein (Phare, SAPARD and ISPA) in accordance with the rules already foreseen. It should be noted that assistance is only granted if the country respects the provisions of the EC-Latvia Association Agreement, makes progress towards satisfying the Copenhagen criteria and assures in the year 2000 the achievement of the specific priorities of this accession partnership.�