Opportunities offered by the EU structural funds in Latvia and Ireland | Eiropas Savienības sniegtās iespējas - struktūrfondi Latvijā un Īrijā

During the past five years Latvia as an EU member state has received remarkable financial resources through the European Union financial instruments, which still in the hard economic times keep stimulating the growth and development of the state. A substantial support from the European Union budget for Latvia is also planned in the period from 2009 to 2015. The ability of Latvia to acquire and forward these finances for the development of the most important sectors in the regions is a milestone of a successful development of the state. Ireland is one of economically most developed, industrial, and trade – oriented states, which until now has managed to use the means of the EU Structural Funds most successfully. The received finances from the EU support funds have considerably favoured to the state’s economic growth. Considering the experience of the EU peripheral state – Ireland, Latvia has the opportunity to compare its situation and governmental decisions in the national development area with Ireland; hence evaluating the core reasons of development and analysing mistakes of a similar country. The development model of Ireland provides Latvia with an opportunity to create to the utmost effective directions, core statements and plans for further economic development facilitating sustainable increase of the state welfare. The analysis of Latvia’s experience in the field of economic growth shows that Latvia has mainly performed in an experimental way without regard of other countries experiences in similar situations. At the same time Latvia has disregarded political, social, economic and regional targets, thus relying only on the ability of new political forces to change the leading political environment. Many documents related to the Structural Funds highlight the aim of the EU Structural Funds to eliminate regional and social inequalities among the EU member states and to improve economic and social cohesion throughout all Europe. Certainly, these financial means are a great benefit for Latvia and they can essentially favour development of the state. The real current situation of Latvia shows the necessity to pay special attention to the fact that large funds also create venture, and inappropriate use of the financial means may promote regional inequalities, social off-casting, degradation of the environment, and corruption.