For Latvia with incoming into the European Union big opportunities in the international markets have opened. Paper purpose is to investigate influence of international integration processes on development of economy of Latvia. In paper various indicators of a national economy before and after incoming into EU are compared. In paper it is defined that joining to EU has increased for Latvia net grants from EU budget. But grants still do not promote development of economy of Latvia, but more stimulate development of internal demand. For demand gain satisfaction, in the conditions of poorly developed internal producing, from abroad the various goods are imported into Latvia, negative difference of export and import is increase. Also inflow of the capital to Latvia after incoming into EU is not used for positive changes in internal economy, and directed to the branches related with finance moving. Actually the industries have not felt essential inflow of the capital. After accession into the European Union (EU), Latvia has started to export labour force. As a result of migration of labour in Latvia the rate of unemployment has decreased, the wages are grown, expenses on a labour that has grown, that reduced an export potential of internal products. EU grants, capital inflow, gain of wages has caused an inflation gain in Latvia. Considering that together with inflation purchasing capacity of inhabitants has grown, it is possible to draw a conclusion that the population well-being has grown. These processes mainly have short-term character. Migration will decrease, considering a gain of wages or because of reduction of labour resources; inflow of the speculative capital will stop because of insufficiency of reliable pledges. It is possible to assert that they will stop, when the standard of living in EU and Latvia will be approximately identical, i.e. in the end of cohesion process in EU. Most stabile is relation of grants and import. Grants are provided to reduce dependence of the state on import but on the contrary, grants increase import volume. Latvia still cannot find the specialisation in EU and in the global markets. Therefore it became dependent on grants of EU and on international help. Definition of specialisation and an effective using of grants could change situation and promote economy development in Latvia. | Latvijai, iestājoties Eiropas Savienībā, parādījās plašas iespējas starptautiskajos tirgos. Raksta mērķis ir izpētīt starptautiskās integrācijas procesu ietekmi uz Latvijas ekonomikas attīstību. Lai to veiktu, rakstā plaši salīdzināti tautsaimniecības rādītāji pirms un pēc iestāšanās ES. Latvijai pievienošanās ES palielināja saņemtos dotācijas līdzekļus, noņēma preču kustībai traucējošās barjeras, piesaistīja ārvalstu kapitālu, samazināja bezdarbu, palielināja darbaspēka migrāciju un izraisīja cenu un pirktspējas pieaugumu.

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.

In this paper, the species of genus Tilia found in Latvia were reviewed: 17 species, 6 subspecies and 6 interspecific hybrids. For each taxon the scientific nomenclature was adjusted, and morphology and distribution was described. Distribution maps for the commonest species in Latvia and a key for the Tilia species found Latvia were compiled.

Starting from May 1, 2004 Latvia as one of the EU member states has received the possibility to use the European Union (EU) Structural Funds (SF) for equalisation of regional disparities. The research focuses on the analysis of Structural Funds uptaking in Latvia for the period of 2004-2006, when Latvia received public financing from the Structural Funds amounting to LVL 462 million, of which Zemgale region received 11%. The research provides the assessment of the main regulatory enactments and characteristics of the five strategic priorities prescribed by the SF. The research dwells upon the evaluation of financing attracted through the SF priorities, number of implemented projects, and operating efficiency in Latvia and Zemgale as one of the central regions of Latvia. Totally 7571 projects have been implemented in Latvia, of which 13% in Zemgale. The largest number of projects has been implemented in Priority 4 (Promotion of Development of Rural Areas and Fisheries) – 50% in Latvia, while 75% of total number of projects have been implemented in Zemgale. The authors have chosen 3 main indicators to determine the operating efficiency of Structural Funds. The authors have calculated the actual use of the SF public financing per 1000 inhabitants, 1000 economically active enterprises and LVL 1000 of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the period of 2004-2006.

The doctoral thesis has been elaborated from year 2004 till 2009 in the Faculty of Food Technology of Latvia University of Agriculture and in Food and Veterinary Service (FVS), including the Laboratory of Food and Environmental Investigations of the National Diagnostic Centre. The aim of the doctoral thesis – to develop scientifically justified criteria for evaluation of the microbiological quality of foods prepared in public catering establishments of Latvia. To achieve the aim of the thesis the following tasks were set: to investigate the parameters of microbiological quality of ready–to–eat foods; to perform the identification of the bacteria species earmarked in the investigations; to analyze the growth properties of microorganisms, main factors of influence and tendencies; to investigate the hygienic situation in the catering establishments of Latvia, including the practical aspects of maintaining the microbiological quality in ready–to–eat foods; to develop microbiological quality criteria for ready–to–eat foods suitable for the circumstances of Latvia; to prepare recommendations for practical implementation of microbiological criteria for ready–to–eat foods in the catering establishments of Latvia.

Pollution of atmosphere and decrease of fossil fuels stimulates people to search for an alternative energy sources for production of energy, both electrical and heat. In Latvia it is possible to use almost all alternative energy sources for production of energy, including solar energy that becomes more relevant year by year. Solar radiation in direct way makes no hazardous, but, as the intensity of solar radiation in geographical location of Latvia is comparatively low, the utilization of it demands relatively expensive equipment. Production of energy from other sources of energy also demands certain investments as well as the purchase of fuel, maintenance of equipment and presence of different manipulators. In practice several types of solar collector constructions with efficiency from 30 up to 75% exist and expenses vary in the wide range. The average number of sunshine hours in Latvia is about 1800 hours yearly. Nevertheless solar collectors for water heating in Latvia are used. Mostly flat-plate collectors are used whose efficiency often is not sufficient and water has to be additionally warmed-up. The aim of our investigation is to study operation of evacuated tube collector in conditions characteristic to Latvia. It is stated that it is feasible to use evacuated tube collector for water heating in Latvia, especially from March till October. During winter period solar collector can be used as additional energy source for water heating.

The research aim is to perform an economic evaluation of grain production in Latvia. In Latvia almost a third of the area was sown with winter wheat (30%), while only a 2% smaller area (28%) was sown with spring barley in 2008. Spring wheat, oats, and mixed grains occupy 14%, 12%, and 10% respectively of total area sown with grains. In 2008 the total output of grains equalled to 1089 thousand tons in Latvia. The average yield of winter grains has increased from 3.59 tons per hectare in 2007 to 4.00 tons per hectare in 2008. Latvian grain producers can fully meet the domestic market demand for grain. The average purchase prices of grains have decreased from LVL 123.83 per ton in 2007 to LVL 100.06 per ton in 2008. Calculations of the profitability for production of winter wheat show that it is possible to gain profit also at the average yields of winter wheat in Latvia by increasing an area sown with winter wheat to 33.79 ha. However, the rate of profitability rises 8% at a winter wheat yield of 1 ton above the average yield in Latvia.

The article presents the overview on comparison and evaluation of Festulolium (x Festulolium) and hybrid ryegrass (Lolium x boucheanum) with in Latvia developed tetraploid pasture ryegrass variety 'Spidola'. One of the main aims of festulolium breeding is a possibility it's to used in regions where climatic conditions are not insufficient favourable for ryegrass cultivation. In Latvia, the tetraploid variety 'Saikava' that is the hybrid of pasture ryegrass, lolium multiflorum and meadow fescue has been developed at the Research Institute of Agriculture of Latvia University of Agriculture. Foreign varieties ('Punia' (L.multifloflorum x F.pratensis), 'Perun' (L.multifloflorum x F.pratensis), 'Felina' and 'Hykor' (L.multifloflorum x F.arundinacea), 'Lofa', 'Tapirus' and 'Ligunda') are also tested in conditions of Latvia as well as winter hardiness and crop yield is evaluated. The experimental data about winter hardiness and dry matter yield of sward varieties are displayed in figures 1 and 2.

Overall, 932 828 cars are registered in Latvia as per 01 January 2009, and only 534 489 of them are suitable for road traffic. Some cars of specific brand and model year are more popular and widespread in Latvia than others, and many cars at the same time have similar or same fuel systems. The objective of the study is to determine the most widespread fuel systems for cars with diesel fuel and gasoline engines in Latvia. The study is based on the analysis of the Road Traffic Safety Authority data, specific car model manuals and information provided by car dealers.

At the moment the combined method – mash distillate rectification with following water adsorption by molecular sieves – is the most widely used method in bioethanol dehydration. We have estimated the energy consumption of the both water removal processes and come to the conclusion that in case of alcohol concentrations up to 90 percent rectification is more advantageous, but above this concentration – water adsorption. Combining of these processes and performing them simultaneously is even more beneficial. Then, by adding water adsorption to rectification, it is possible to gain 60 to 80 percent energy saving. These studies allow us to propose a new bioethanol dehydration technology, which we named as congruent dehydration of bioethanol.