Searching European Identity Latvian 3rd Year of Membership in the
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Transcript Searching European Identity Latvian 3rd Year of Membership in the
Searching European Identity Latvian
3rd Year of Membership in the
European Union
Andzs Ubelis
MSC Eco. student Cardiff University
Deputy State Secretary, Ministry of
Finance, Republic of Latvia
EPRC
Glasgow, 20 March, 2007
Content of Presentation
I.
Past - EU accession – success story
II.
Present - Resume after 3rd year in
EU
III.
Future – in the search of new
European identity
2
I. EU accession – success story
9 years of reforms (1995-2004)
economic transition (Free Trade Agreement with EU,
Russian crises 1998) and shifting trade from East to
West
market liberalisation
harmonisation of the legislation
building institutions and improving governance
3
I. EU accession – success story
Accession process
proving commitment for reforms
getting on a fast track – escaping from the group of
2007 enlargement (1999 Helsinki)
4
II. Resume after 3rd year in EU
Status of a new member state
newcomers in an old club – EU15 vs EU10 (EU12):
EU6 vs Cohesion countries
Donors vs Beneficiaries
Liberal economies vs Social Model
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II. Resume after 3rd year in EU
Costs and Benefits
good financial package for 2007-2013
little success with EU agenda (constitution, legislation
on free movement of services)
limited influence at European scale:
only one clearly visible political leader from Latvia
on European / International scene
poor representation in EU institutions
joining Euro zone becomes a challenge
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II. Resume after 3rd year in EU
Baltic tiger walking on the edge
high real GDP growth rates (10% and more)
inflow of FDI and capital
high inflation
current account deficit
indebtedness
risk of overheating
risk of devaluation of national currency and financial
crisis
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II. Resume after 3rd year in EU
Baltic tiger walking on the edge
Macroeconomic policy “trap” for the
Government and the Central Bank
EU accession economic growth higher demand for labour
higher wages higher prices inflation
EU accession agenda for joining Euro zone pegging
Latvian Lat to Euro the Central Bank loosing control over
monetary policy (interest rates, exchange rates) can’t control
inflation
EU accession opening EU labour market outflow of labour
force (e.g. to UK, Ireland) Government has to rise salaries and
reduce taxes to motivate people stay in Latvia can’t control
inflation
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II. Resume after 3rd year in EU
Baltic tiger walking on the edge Structural
changes in economy required to sustain the
growth
rising productivity
higher value and less labour intensive added services
and production
less capital intensive production
more export oriented services and production
smart use of EU funding
9
III. Further perspectives – in the
search of new European identity
Why new European identity needed for Latvia
setting medium term development targets for the
nation – also requires searching for a new global /
regional (e.g. Europe, Baltic Sea Region) role
mobilizing and targeting scarce resources (human,
intellectual, financial) for action at international / EU
scale
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III. Further perspectives – in the
search of new European identity
Possible identity scenarios - endogenous
from fast growing economy to most competitive
economy
standing for liberal values - free movement of
services, reducing tax burden
building knowledge based economy
benefit from having 2 most competitive European
economies at our door step - new identity for Baltic
Sea Region
from periphery and buffer zone with Russia to the
bridge with Russia and former Soviet Union
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III. Further perspectives – in the
search of new European identity
Possible identity scenarios - endogenous
from beneficiaries of extensive EU assistance to
effective manager of public financing in EU
from a country dependent on supplies of fossil energy
from Russia to front runner of sustainable energy
policy in Europe
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Conclusion
Latvian accession to European Union
proved to be success. However accession
itself does not grant to a country a status
of a successful member state. It’s now in
the hands of Latvians to prove their ability
to become successful Europeans.
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