Chapter 8: Latvia

(continued)

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Some positive activities have taken place in the public participation and access to information fields. Most state and public officials know now what public participation is and why it is necessary. Positive activities include the following:

detailed public participation procedure is included in the new drafts;
some present legislation has been remade because of unclear public participation procedure;
public participation and access to environmental information norms are developed because of the EU requirements;
legislation on access to environmental information will be worked out in 1998.

However, many activities will have to be carried out to provide successful public participation and access to environmental information. They are as follows:

clear legislation should be worked out, both for access to information and public participation;
the responsible institutions at national, regional and local levels should be established to provide active dissemination of information, explanation and educational work;
a database of environmental legislation for the public and officials is necessary;
responsibilities of state, regional and local officials should be separated and explained to the public, otherwise the public very often does not know who is responsible for distribution;
information about new drafts and activities should be distributed to the public and NGOs systematically;
state institutions should invite representatives of NGOs to participate in working groups which work out new legislation as well as in training;
free of charge legal services would greatly help NGOs become more professional;
court cases are necessary to implement several legal norms in practice.

REC * PUBLICATIONS * DOORS TO DEMOCRACY - CEE * LATVIA