On 8 May, President Edgars Rinkēvičs met with Minister for Transport Atis Švinka at the Riga Castle with the construction of the troubled Rail Baltica high-speed rail connection high on the agenda.
During the meeting, the pair addressed the condition of Latvia’s road and rail networks as well as the progress of the Rail Baltica project which has seen its costs increasing dramatically even as its deadlines fall behind schedule.
The meeting also covered the implementation plans for port reform and the uncertain status of airBaltic’s often-discussed but yet-to-be-confirmed initial public offering (IPO).
“Projects of national importance do not always proceed smoothly. I call upon the Ministry of Transport and the government to act responsibly throughout the implementation of Rail Baltica and the development of airBaltic, ensuring that commitments made are honoured. At the same time, special attention must be paid to the needs of residents in the regions by providing high-quality and sustainable road infrastructure,” said President Rinkēvičs following the meeting.
The President of Latvia also expressed his expectation for the swift approval of amendments to the Law on Ports, particularly regarding the optimisation of the governance of small ports by limiting port boards to no more than five members.
On Rail Baltica, President Rinkēvičs “invited the Minister to present the findings of the evaluation regarding potential cost reductions for the project,” according to a release from the Presidential Chancellery.
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