KURZEME PLANNING REGION SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2030 MUNICIPALITY KURZEME

ROJA MUNICIPALITY

ALSUNGA MUNICIPALITY

PĀVILOSTA MUNICIPALITY

VENTSPILS

TALSI MUNICIPALITY MĒRSRAGS MUNICIPALITY

GROBIŅA MUNICIPALITY LIEPĀJA CITY

BROCĒNI MUNICIPALITY KULDĪGA MUNICIPALITY

DURBE MUNICIPALITY PRIEKULE MUNICIPALITY

NĪCA MUNICIPALITY The booklet is nanced by the

Norwegian Financial Mechanism MUNICIPALITY programme 2009–2014 No. LV 07 MUNICIPALITY “Capacity-building and Institutional Cooperation between Latvian and Norwegian Public Institutions, Local and Regional Authorities” project No. 4.3–24/NFI/INP–002 “Increasing territorial development planning capacities of planning regions and local governments VAIŅODE MUNICIPALITY of and elaboration of development planning documents” MUNICIPALITY MUNICIPALITY RUCAVA Local Governments of Latvia Kurzeme is a unique region in the west of Latvia. It can be proud of the long and diverse coast of the and important cultural and natural heritage. The widest waterfall in Ventspils Municipality Europe – Ventas Rumba – is situated in the heart of Kurzeme. The landscape of the region keeps traces left not only by the

Roja Suiti and Livs, but also by the Vikings. Chairwoman of Kurzeme Planning Region City Historically, Kurzeme Region is known by its strong traditional Development Council Mērsrags economic sector (forestry, agriculture and shery) and manufacturing Municipality industry. The development of technologies and creative industries Inga Bērziņa also plays an increasing role. Ports are an important aspect in the Municipality development of the of national signi cance – Liepāja and Ventspils. Kurzeme has three regional development centres – Kuldīga, Saldus and Talsi, and each of them has its own special signi cance. Alsunga Every year this region is visited by an increasing number of tourists, Kuldīga Municipality Municipality who want to visit Kurzeme, explore its special natural values, buy local Pāvilosta craftsmen goods and farm products, enjoy the charm of the cities of Municipality Kurzeme during the city festivals and celebrations, and nd peace on Aizpute the beaches and nature trails. Municipality Brocēni Municipality The concept of sustainable development includes environmental, economic, social and governmental aspects. The Kurzeme Planning Municipality Skrunda Region sustainable development strategy “Kurzeme 2030” is designed Liepāja Municipality City with the aim to balance these four aspects, to de ne the main directions Saldus of development, and to continue the work on the improvement of Grobiņa Municipality Municipality Kurzeme regional development and quality of life of the inhabitants. Priekule Vaiņode Implementation of the strategy will enhance cooperation both Municipality Municipality regionally and internationally, as well as it will promote investments in Nīca Municipality Rucava the development of education and technology. Municipality

KURZEME PLANNING REGION SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2030 5 Activity and Functions General Information of the Region about the Region

Kurzeme Planning Region is one of the ve planning regions in Latvia. The executive board of Kurzeme Planning Region is the Administration. The task of the Administration is to represent the interests of local governments of Kurzeme at national level.

The most important functions of the Administration Regional development planning, coordination and Drafting of Kurzeme Planning Region sector monitoring, including drafting of the spatial development documents. Area Population Number of local development planning documents of Kurzeme Provision of relevant information accessibility for governments 2 Planning Region. Kurzeme Planning Region , 13 607 km 279 961 21% of the total area 13% of the population of Bringing forward proposals for drafting of national businesses and citizens. 20 local governments of Latvia /CSB/ Latvia /OCMA/ and local development planning documents, Noti cation of Kurzeme Planning Region coordination of drafting of the local development municipalities and entrepreneurs of planning documents. opportunities to participate in projects and Providing resolutions on compliance of sustainable attract funding. development strategies and development Entrepreneurship promotion. programmes of local governments with Provision of public transport accessibility for development planning documents of the planning inhabitants of the region. region and requirements of laws and regulations. Representation of the region’s interests in Along with performance of its core functions, the ministries, commissions, committees and councils. region is also involved in other initiatives regarding tourism, environmental protection, social and other Cities of national Development centres of EU funding Coordination of cooperation between regional spheres, as well as it implements the cultural signicance regional signicance authorities, state and local government institutions. programme of Kurzeme Planning Region by 1 291 EUR per capita Identi cation and preparation of regional projects funding various cultural events in the region. In the Liepāja, Kuldīga, Saldus in 2007–2013 for nancing from various nancial sources, 2007–2013 planning period Kurzeme Planning The highest funding in Ventspils and Talsi Latvia /MEPRD/ implementation of the regional projects, and Region attracted almost eight million euros, which consulting municipalities on project preparation. were invested in the development of the region. 7 Special Values of Kurzeme

350 km long sea coast – sandy beaches, clis, dunes, ancient shing villages Building areas and courtyards Other areas 17 434 ha / 1% 53 836 ha / 4% High biological and Road infrastructure Agricultural land landscape diversity 26 422 ha / 2% 443 780 ha / 33% Abundant and high-quality Waters water resources 46 866 ha / 3% Rich cultural heritage Swamps 37 036 ha / 3% Trans-European transport Forests network (TEN-T) elements – 719 405 ha / 53% large ports, roads, railways, 33% airports Small ports – yacht tourism, shing, freight transportation

The main sectors – transport 53% and logistics, wood processing, metal processing, agriculture, food and clothing production,

Land use types sheries, tourism /SLS, 01.01.2014/ KURZEME PLANNING REGION SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2030 9 The Region’s Role Vision Supporting infrastructure Vital in Latvia and the Baltic Region areas

Iniciative and responsibility Employment

Attractive Smart living development Kurzeme environment 2030 smart, creative and green, internationally competitive and attractive region on the coast of the Energy Knowledge Baltic Sea resources and energy e ciency

Global connectedness and openness

Integrated Cooperation governance and competitiveness

Kurzeme Region is an important area both for Latvia and for other countries. Two of the three major Latvian ports Recognisability are located in Kurzeme – in the Baltic Sea region development centres Liepāja and Ventspils. Both cities of national signi cance are included in the TEN-T network. The 350 km long Baltic Sea coast is considered as a resource of international importance, which is unique in the Baltic Sea area. Kuldiga Old and Rapid (Ventas rumba) and the Grobiņa Archaeological Complex are included in the Latvian National Register of the UNESCO World Heritage List, while the Suiti cultural space is included in the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. VISION: KURZEME 2030 – SMART, CREATIVE AND GREEN, INTERNATIONALLY COMPETITIVE AND ATTRACTIVE REGION ON THE COAST OF THE BALTIC SEA 11 Objectives and Priorities Economic Prole of Kurzeme Region

Strategic objectives Supporting infrastructure – from infrastructure Natural resources Potential for development of the natural, Smart development – focused on the change of support in the sector to infrastructure support in a Available resources – clay, quartz sand, sand and cultural and historical space. Urban thinking and behaviour, which can be achieved by particular location. gravel, limestone, peat, sapropel. environment, cultural and artistic activities – especially in Liepāja, signi cant ethnographic investments in education, science, creative “Vital” areas – from orientation to service to Potential resources – underground gas storage areas and protected natural areas industries, as well as by changing public orientation to people/social orientation. development and alternative energy development, environment and developing entrepreneurial oil extraction. Seacoast Employment – transition from a place at work to thinking. work in a particular place. Economic specialization development trends Attractive living environment – focused on the Development advantages Energy resources and energy eciency – from low Investments in the development of technological change of living and working environments, Traditions in shery, manufacture of clothes, resource processing to high resource processing, competencies which can be achieved by purposeful changes in tourism, fabricated metal production, forestry, from energy consumption to energy saving – Development of creative resources for the living and working environments and by focusing on food production, wholesale trade, as well as purpose of increasing value added making more with fewer resources. storage and transport operation traditions location-oriented development. Cooperation among the government, business Cooperation and competitiveness – from Advantages in natural resources and Global connectedness and openness – focused on and science and research institutions competition to mutually bene cial cooperation. infrastructure openness and the use of global opportunities by Infrastructure development Geopolitical position the region, place and individuals, which can be Recognition – from local recognition to targeted Use of marine resources achieved by establishing cooperation-driven local marketing. management. Governance – from management to governance. Other Manufacturing industry 15% 19% Priorities Education 5% Knowledge – from formal education to skill-based Transport Construction 6% lifelong education. 17% Management and Insurance 7% Initiative and responsibility – from pro ts at any Trade 9% cost to socially reasonable pro t. 10% 11% Agriculture, forestry, shery Real estate transactions

Total division of value added in Kurzeme Region /CSB, 2011/ 13 Spatial Development Perspective

Residential facilities and development centres Natural and cultural area Approximately 280 000 inhabitants live in Kurzeme Rural/agricultural and forest areas, speci c Region. The population density is 21 people/km2 coastal area, frontier area and urban areas are with explicit dierences among the territories. The typical for Kurzeme. population is concentrated around the major cities A particular value is added by the cultural and (Liepāja, Ventspils, Kuldīga, Talsi, Saldus), creating historical areas that once were populated by residential locations with functional linkage. the Suits, Livs and the Curonian Kings, as well as the cultural areas in Rucava, Bārta, Nīca and Development centres in Kurzeme Planning Abava. Kuldiga Old town and Venta Rapid Region: (Ventas rumba) and the Grobiņa Archaeological Development centres of the Baltic Sea region/ Complex are included in the Latvian National national signi cance – Liepāja and Ventspils Register of the UNESCO World Heritage List, Development centres of regional signi cance – while the Suiti cultural space is included in the Kuldīga, Saldus, Talsi UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Development centres of municipal signi cance – Need of Urgent Safeguarding. Aizpute, Alsunga, Brocēni, Dundaga, Durbe, 14% of Kurzeme Region is covered by specially Ezere, Grobiņa, Mērsrags, Nīca, Pāvilosta, , protected natural areas (more than the Priekule, Roja, Rucava, , Skrunda, , average number elsewhere in Latvia). Slītere Ugāle, Vaiņode, Valdemārpils, Ventava National Park is situated in the northern part Development centres of local signi cance – set in of Kurzeme. Besides, there are various the municipality development planning protected areas located in river valleys, near documents lakes, in forests, on the coast, and in the sea. Every year cultural and natural monuments attract many tourists to Kurzeme Region.

KURZEMES PLĀNOŠANAS REĢIONA ILGTSPĒJĪGAS ATTĪSTĪBAS STRATĒĢIJA LĪDZ 2030.GADAM 15 Accessibility of the locations and infrastructure Kurzeme energy infrastructure: 110 kV and 330 kV power lines, construction of a new 330 kV power line is planned ("Kurzeme Ring") natural gas pipeline in the south of Kurzeme, construction of a new gas pipeline connected to Ventspils is planned oil product pipeline –Ventspils potentially developed sectors – wind, solar, geothermal energy extraction, use of wood and waste recycling for energy extraction

Kurzeme transport infrastructure: multi-modal transport corridors – –Liepāja (Southern corridor) and the Riga–Ventspils (Northern corridor) – with the state major road network, railways, two major ports and airports potential for rail passenger services by Nothern and Sothern corridors development of the Mid-Kurzeme Corridor (–Kuldīga) regional motor roads connecting cities of national signi cance and of regional signi cance small ports – Mērsrags, Roja, Pāvilosta passenger transportation in the region is provided by the public bus network and private transport construction of international cycling routes EuroVelo 10 and EuroVelo 13 is planned KURZEME PLANNING REGION SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2030 17 KURZEME PLANNING REGION SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2030 19 Aizpute Municipality www.aizputesnovads.lv Kurzeme Planning Region Administration www.alsunga.lv 12-212 Eksporta iela Brocēni Municipality www.broceni.lv Riga, LV–1045 Dundaga Municipality www.dundaga.lv +371 67331492 Durbe Municipality www.durbe.lv [email protected] Grobiņa Municipality www.grobina.lv www.kurzemesregions.lv Kuldīga Municipality www.kuldiga.lv Liepāja City http://varti.liepaja.lv/ Kurzeme Planning Region Planning Nīca Municipality www.nica.lv Department, Public Transport Division Mērsrags Municipality www.mersrags.lv 3 Pilsētas Laukums Pāvilosta Municipality www.pavilosta.lv Kuldīga, LV–3301 Priekule Municipality www.priekulesnovads.lv +371 63321324 www.roja.lv Rucava Municipality www.rucava.lv [email protected] www.saldus.lv Skrunda Municipality www.skrundasnovads.lv KPR EU Structural Information and Business www.talsi.lv Support Centre Vaiņode Municipality www.vainode.lv 2 Striķu iela, 2nd oor Ventspils Municipality www.ventspilsnd.lv Saldus, LV–3801 Ventspils City www.ventspils.lv +371 63807276