2019/2020 LATVIA Human Development Report
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LATVIA LATVIA Human Development Report Human Development Report Development Human 2019/2020 The Latvia Human Development Report has been published since 1995. The Advanced Social and Political Research Institute, Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Latvia has managed and edited the Report in collaboration with partners across Latvia since 2005. The 2019/2020 Report investigates the Europeanization of Latvia – the impact that membership of the European Union (EU) has left on Latvian politics and government, economy and society. The authors of the first part of the Report focus on changes and modernization of the state, examining, in particular, Europeanization of the political system, public administration and local governments, as well as foreign affairs and the judicial system. It also assesses the EU’s impact upon the economy. The second part of the report focuses mainly on the impact of the EU on people, society and mass media. The authors reveal that the EU’s impact is pronounced in the main political institutions and that the membership of the EU has fostered extensive modernization of governance. At the same time, although there has been a large-scale reorientation towards European values, Latvia’s membership in the EU has not achieved substantive change in combatting poverty, inequality and depopulation of rural areas. These problems, similarly to economic development, are national-level issues, which can be resolved only through domestic government led reforms. 2019/2020 EUROPEANIZATION Advanced Social and Political Research Institute OF LATVIA ISBN 978-9934-18-661-5 2019/2020 LATVIA Human Development Report EUROPEANIZATION OF LATVIA Advanced Social and Political Research Institute Latvia. Human Development Report 2019/2020. Europeanization of Latvia. Editor-in-chief Daunis Auers. Riga: Advanced Social and Political Research Institute of the University of Latvia, 2020, 152 pp., illustrations, tables, map. ISBN 978-9934- 18-661-5 The text of this publication is not copyright protected. This text, both in full and in part, may be used without prior permis- sion; however, acknowledgement of the source is mandatory. Advanced Social and Political Research Institute Editor-in-chief Daunis Auers Project manager Anete Skrastiņa Statistician Anita Švarckopfa Authors of Introduction: Daunis Auers, Ivo Rollis Authors of Chapter 1: Daunis Auers, Iveta Reinholde, Toms Rostoks, Morten Hansen, Jānis Pleps Authors of Chapter 2: Baiba Bela, Aija Zobena, Klinta Ločmele, Vita Zelče The survey about the attitudes, values of Latvia’s inhabitants and the awareness of Latvia’s Europeanization was conducted by the research centre SKDS. Data tables about basic facts of Latvia, human development index and statistical indicators were prepared by Anita Švarckopfa. Scientific reviewers: Dr. Žaneta Ozoliņa, Professor, University of Latvia, Faculty of Social Sciences, senior researcher at Advanced Social and Political Research Institute Dr. Kārlis Bukovskis, Assistant Professor, Riga Stradins University, Department of Political Science, Deputy-director and researcher at Latvian Institute of International Affairs Recommended for publication by the University of Latvia Board of Social Sciences, decision No. 2 of December 3, 2020. Latvian language editor Ruta Puriņa English language editors Christopher Goddard, Daunis Auers Translation from English into Latvian by Andra Damberga Translation from Latvian into English by Ingūna Beķere Cover design, inside page design and layout by Baiba Lazdiņa Picture copyright shutterstock.com The editors thank Aija Zobena and Renārs Felcis for their work on the survey and questionnaire. The editors thank Jānis Ikstens, Aija Zobena, and Ilze Kāposta for organisational assistance. ISBN 978-9934-18-661-5 https://doi.org/10.22364/lvhdr.2019.2020 Foreword Throughout centuries the Latvian nation has evol- and makes us co-responsible for sustainable and demo- ved, existed and developed as a nation deeply rooted in cratic development of united Europe. European culture. We all have a twofold identity: we are We can distinguish between three periods of Latvia’s Latvians and at the same time Europeans. We identify European integration. The first period began with resto- ourselves and care about not only our own local commu- ration of independence in 1990/1991 and ended when we nity, specific cultural and historical Latvian land or state joined the European Union in 2004. Latvia needed these of Latvia, but also Europe as a whole. roughly 15 years to restructure its economy, political and European identity, physical and spiritual affiliation legal system, realign its values with Western, specifically with European culture has always been the cornerstone the European, democratic standards. It was the transition of Latvia’s international stance, a crucial element of our period for the state and the society, which transformed political and legal culture and the way we think about nearly every area of our life and taught us the importance our state. Human dignity, human rights and freedoms, of adjusting to new circumstances as quickly as possible. democracy, rule of law and solidarity are European The experience now deeply embedded in the national values that have naturally shaped and moulded Latvia as consciousness, this tough experience, is a great advan- a nation state. tage in modern, fast changing and unpredictable world, Article 68 of our constitution, Satversme, indica- which allows us to adjust and even proactively prepare tes the very reason we are a member of the European for any global shifts a lot easier than many other nations Union – Latvia needs Europe to strengthen its democ- can, including the big ones. racy. European dimension has enabled Latvia to establish The second period of European integration came a balanced and well-developed democracy and spread after we became an EU member state. We had to trans- the rule of law across Latvia. It contributes to sustainable pose European Union laws, standards and political logic. development of Latvia and serves our collective interests. This period, which began after 2004 and lasts until today, Whereas the preamble of our constitution, Satversme, can be described as period of our European matura- provides a legal and political framework for European tion. I truly believe that as we enter the third decade of dimension of our policies that the state and the society the 21st century thirty years after regaining our national should follow. It underscores the geopolitical affiliation of independence and 15 years since joining the European the state and nation of Latvia with European cultural space Union, when a whole generation of Latvians has grown in fully independent Latvia, we are ready to enter the next standards that are often considered ‘less European’ than phase of our European integration. The first two phases theirs, which can partly be also blamed on our inability to of European integration where asymmetric: Latvia had break out of this ‘asymmetrical infatuation’. However, in to take over European experiences, standards, thinking both cases this distinction between core and periphery paradigms and values, whereas now we, the Latvians, seems to be outdated and out of place. We need to make conceive ourselves as true Europeans, just like Finns, conscious effort on both sides to end this prejudice as Dutch, Austrians and other European nations. soon as possible. That means we are no longer on the receiving end We need to replace them with new collective para- only – we are not merely transposing and implementing digms based on experience, standards and values of all European standards, thinking paradigms or values. Our European nations, which are given equal recognition. actions, way of thinking and values are European by United Europe is comprised of nations that are equal and default. That is our contribution to European project, treat each other as peers. All European Union member the way we strengthen common European standards, states, including Latvia, are equally responsible for help fulfil its values and development objectives. We play the future of Europe. Europe needs Latvia and its contri- the same role as Finns, Germans, Estonians, Portuguese bution to the future development of common European and other European nations in this process. And we are project. very much open to best practices of other European nations, as much as they are open to best practices coming from Latvia. Undoubtedly, old Europe is still suffering from lack of Egils Levits ability to recognise the merits of our position, values and President of the Republic of Latvia Contents Foreword .......................................................................................................................................................... 3 Illustrations, tables, boxes ............................................................................................................................... 6 Basic facts about Latvia, 2019 ......................................................................................................................... 9 Introduction Daunis Auers, Ivo Rollis ................................................................................................... 10 Part 1 Politics, law and the economy .................................................................................... 16 1.1. Daunis Auers. Europeanization of Latvia’s political system ....................................................... 17 1.2. Iveta Reinholde. Europeanization, soft