OREANDA-NEWS. November 12, 2013. During the meeting with Prime Minister of Latvia Valdis Dombrovskis, Christian Weise, Head of the European Commission’s post-program surveillance mission appreciated Latvia’s progress in ensuring dynamic growth rates, progress towards reduction of the budget deficit and responsible financial planning.

V.Dombrovskis informed the EC representatives on the approved 2014 budget that provides for reducing the budget deficit to 0.9% of GDP; however it also contains a number of initiatives aimed at reducing income inequality, support for employees with lower wage rates and greater support for families with children.

The Prime Minister pointed out that, it is important for Latvia to maintain strict fiscal policy in view of the fact that the international loan, amounting to approximately EUR 3 billion, has to be refinanced in 2014 and 2015.

The Head of the Government and the representatives of the EC also discussed the preparations for the introduction of the European single currency in Latvia, and shared the same opinion that it proceeds in line with the schedule. C.Weise appreciated the fact that the support for the euro among the population is gradually growing.

C.Weise stressed that the representatives of the mission have positively assessed the successful implementation of the structural reforms in Latvia in several areas, incl. banking sector and professional education, as well as the progress in adopting the Construction Law in the Parliament.

The Prime Minister and the Head of the EC mission discussed the situation in the fields of energy, transport, education and social policy, as well as the progress in the implementation of the reform of governance of capital companies.

Next visit of the EC post-program surveillance mission to Latvia is scheduled in six months.