LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR RECEIPT OF DISASTER RELIEF IN LATVIA Study of legal framework for receipt of relief for prevention and elimination of disaster in the territory of the Republic of Latvia, considering best practice recommendations set by IDRL Guidelines and HNS Guidelines Funded by ECHO Coordinating Partner: Associated Partners: PREPARED IN COOPERATION WITH LAW OFFICE FORT AND STATE FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE www.fortlegal.com THIS PROJECT IS SUPPORTED BY THE CIVIL PROTECTION FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT OF THE EUROPEAN UNION. HOWEVER, SOLE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS CONTENTS RESIDES WITH THE AUTHORS. THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY USE THAT MAY BE MADE OF THE INFORMATION HEREIN. APRIL 2014 - 2 / 69 - TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................... 5 ABBREVIATIONS AND DEFINITIONS .................................................................................. 6 1. COUNTRY PROFILE .......................................................................................................... 7 2. POSSIBLE DISASTER SCENARIOS ................................................................................ 8 2.1. Possible hazards ................................................................................................................. 8 2.1.1. Natural disasters ............................................................................................................... 8 2.1.2. Man-made disasters .......................................................................................................... 9 2.1.3. Epidemics, epizooty and epiphytotic conditions ............................................................ 10 2.2. Previous experience with hosting foreign relief ............................................................ 10 3. MEMBERSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS ........................................................................................................................ 10 3.1. UN ...................................................................................................................................... 11 3.2. NATO ................................................................................................................................ 13 3.3. EU ...................................................................................................................................... 14 4. BILATERAL AGREEMENTS .......................................................................................... 17 5. NATIONAL LEGAL SYSTEM ......................................................................................... 19 5.1. Political System and its Characteristics ......................................................................... 19 5.2. National Laws and Regulations and Planning Documents .......................................... 20 5.2.1. State Civil Protection Plan ............................................................................................. 20 5.2.2. Civil Protection Law ...................................................................................................... 20 5.2.3. State Emergency Medical Plan ...................................................................................... 20 5.2.4. Term “disaster” .............................................................................................................. 21 5.2.5. Terms “humanitarian aid”, “international assistance” and “disaster relief” .................. 22 5.3. Institutions and Their Competence: Communication Points, Coordination of Provision of Support, Exchange of Information ...................................................................... 23 6. LEGAL FRAMEWORK IN CASES OF DISASTER...................................................... 24 6.1. Preparedness for Cases of Disasters: Warning and Response..................................... 24 6.2. Request for Assistance, Fulfilment and Termination Thereof .................................... 25 6.3. Coordination ..................................................................................................................... 27 6.4. Personnel ........................................................................................................................... 28 6.4.1. Travel and Work Permits ............................................................................................... 28 6.4.2. Rights of an Employee and Recognition of Professional Qualification ........................ 30 6.4.2.1. Employee’s Rights ...................................................................................................... 30 - 3 / 69 - 6.4.2.2. Recognition of the Professional Qualification ............................................................ 31 6.4.3. Employment of Domestic Labour .................................................................................. 33 6.5. Goods and Equipment ..................................................................................................... 33 6.5.1. Customs Procedures and Import Conditions .................................................................. 33 6.5.2. Specific Requirements: Food, Medicine and Animals ................................................... 37 6.5.3. Re-export of Unused Goods ........................................................................................... 39 6.6. Taxes.................................................................................................................................. 39 6.6.1. Corporate Income Tax .................................................................................................... 40 6.6.2. Value Added Tax ........................................................................................................... 40 6.6.3. Personal Income Tax ...................................................................................................... 41 6.6.4. Compulsory Social Security Contributions .................................................................... 42 6.7. Transport and Movement ............................................................................................... 42 6.7.1. Aircrafts .......................................................................................................................... 43 6.7.2. Railway........................................................................................................................... 44 6.7.3. Vessels ............................................................................................................................ 44 6.7.4. Road transportation ........................................................................................................ 44 6.8. Electronic Communications ............................................................................................ 45 6.9. Money Supply and Bank Accounts ................................................................................ 45 6.10. Working Hours ............................................................................................................. 46 6.11. Liability of Affected State and Assisting States and Eligible Assisting Humanitarian Organizations ..................................................................................................... 46 6.12. Compensation of Expenses .......................................................................................... 48 6.13. Security and Insurance ................................................................................................ 49 7. ASSISTANCE OF FOREIGN MILITARY FORCES AND PRIVATE SECTOR ....... 49 8. ROLE OF LRC IN DISASTER MANAGEMENT .......................................................... 50 9. CONCLUSIONS .................................................................................................................. 51 10. KEY RECOMMENDATIONS ....................................................................................... 53 - 4 / 69 - INTRODUCTION It is responsibility and duty of each country to protect people, animals, property and environment from disasters or threats thereof within its territory. In certain cases the affected country will not be capable to take all the necessary actions to effectively avert possible disaster or recover from its consequences without assistance. Due to this reason many countries, and Latvia among them, mutually cooperate to ensure due performance of the aforesaid duty. Cross-border cooperation can be implemented on different levels, including based on conventions concluded within UN, by applying relevant mechanisms of UN for receipt of relief. Furthermore, cooperation can be implemented within other international organizations, including NATO and EU. In addition, Latvia, just like other countries, is particularly interested and active in cooperation with its neighbouring countries. Appropriate and clear legal framework which establishes rights, obligations, privileges of parties involved in provision and receipt of the relief as well as procedure for receipt and provision of the relief itself, is the cornerstone of a successful cooperation. On 30 November 2007, the state parties to the Geneva Conventions and the International Red Cross Red Crescent Movement unanimously adopted the IDRL Guidelines. The UN General Assembly has passed several resolutions encouraging countries to make use of these guidelines. The IDRL Guidelines, as well as HNS Guidelines