Multilevel governance and service availability in regions – challenges and new solutions Andris Eglītis Senior Expert Regional Development Planning Division Department of Regional Policy Municipalities and planning regions 119 municipalities: Inhabitants (2016): 9 state level development centers Riga city municipality - 639 630 110 novadi (21 regional level Daugavpils city municipality - 85 858 development centers) Liepaja city municipality - 70 630 Baltinava municipality – 1054 5 planning regions Alsunga municipality - 1382 2 Regional development trends 16000 18 14000 16 12000 14 10000 12 8000 10 8 6000 6 4000 4 2000 2 0 0 Rīgas Vidzemes Kurzemes Zemgales Latgales Rīgas Vidzemes Kurzemes Zemgales Latgales reģions reģions reģions reģions reģions 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Unemployment levels in planning GDP per capita in planning regions 2008- regions 2011-2015, % 2012, euro 3000 70 2500 60 50 2000 40 1500 30 1000 20 500 10 0 0 Rīgas Vidzemes Kurzemes Zemgales Latgales Rīgas Vidzemes Kurzemes Zemgales Latgales reģions reģions reģions reģions reģions reģions reģions reģions reģions reģions 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Non-financial investment per capita in planning Number of economically active individual regions 2009-2013 (prices of 2013; euro) merchants and companies per 1000 inhabitants in planning regions 2009-2013 Demographic trends 4 Demographic forecasts till 2030 5 Regional policy until 2020 • Promotion of polycentric development - functional target areas (Latvia 2030) • Promotion of economic activity and improvement of business environment at regional and local level • “Basket” of public services • Action Plan for the Development of Latgale Planning Region 2015 - 2017 • National long-term thematic plan for the coastal area of the Baltic Sea 6 «Basket» of public services for investment Differentiated amount of public services related to each level of settlement Basket of services defined for services in education, health, culture, social care, sports Higher levels of settlement should provide for wider amount of services Policentric development: 9+21 Balanced network of centres 8 Centres 9 Basket of services - education 1 0 1 1 Basket of services - education 1 2 Basket of services - education 1 3 Basket of services – health care 1 4 Basket of services – health care 1 5 Basket of services – culture 1 6 Basket of services – social services 1 7 Services – Multichannel delivery & One Stop Shop principle 1. Service at the counter – shared - Progress towards Unified State and Municipal Customer Service Centers. 2. Service availably – by digitalization - Self service solutions - eAssistants (Unified Customer Service Centers, Libraries) 3. eAccount & eDelivery – single profile and official digital communication channel with government Service Delivery Point of single contact for municipal and national services Unified Customer Service Centers . Social Insurance . Employment . Taxes and Revenues . Register of Enterprises . Rural Support & . Land Service . Citizenship and Migration . Labour Inspectorate On site provision Digital tutor 2020 plan: 89 Local level Unified Customer Service • 21 Regional level Centers • 9 National level Implemented: 56 local + 3 regional centers Local + 23 (2017); +10 (2018) Next steps : Regional/ National +5 (2018) Areas of cooperation 21 Thank you! www.varam.gov.lv .