On October 6, in the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, the Cabinet of Ministers Regulations Project prepared by the Ministry of the Environment “Amendments for the Cabinet of Ministers Regulations in April 15, 2003 No 184 “Requirements for Working with Biocides” (hereafter – Regulations Project) was accepted.

On October 6, in the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, the Cabinet of Ministers draft laws prepared by the Ministry of the Environment “Amendments for Law on Grīņu Reserve”, “Amendments for Law on Moricsalas Reserve” and “Amendments for Law on Slīteres National Park” (hereafter – draft laws) were accepted.

On September 30, in the Cabinet of Ministers meeting the Cabinet of Ministers Regulations Project drafted by the Ministry of the Environment “Regulations on action program “Infrastructure and Services” additional activity No 3.4.1.4. “Recovering Historically Contaminated Areas” (hereafter – Regulations Project) was accepted.

On September 29, in the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, Regulations Project prepared by the Ministry of the Environment “Special Regulations on Protection and Exploitation of the Country Park “Laukezers”” (hereafter – Regulations Project) was accepted.

On September 25, in the meeting of the Secretaries of the State, information message prepared by the Ministry of the Environment “Recommendations on Green Public Procurement Promotion among the State Institutions and Municipalities and Recommendations on Environmentally Friendly Constructing” was announced.

On September 25, in the meeting of the Secretaries of the State, Cabinet of Ministers draft law prepared by the Ministry of the Environment “Amendments for the Law on Chemical Substances and Chemical Products” was announced.

On September 23, in the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, the draft law „Amendments in Law on Natural Resources Tax” (hereafter – the draft law) was announced.

On September 22, during the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, the Regulations Project, made by the Ministry of the Environment, „Regulations on action program „Infrastructure and services” supplement 3.4.1.2.2. underactivity „Anthropogenic load decreasing, educational and informative infrastructure promotion development on „Natura 2000” territories” (hereafter – Regulations Project)

On September 22, in the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, Regulations Project prepared by the Ministry of the Environment „Regulations on the Submission Order of Documents about the Volume and Type of Recycled Waste” was announced.

On September 22, in the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, Regulations Project prepared by the Ministry of the Environment „The Order of Management of Specific Hazardous Waste” was announced. The Regulations Project commutes the Cabinet of Ministers Regulations No 529 December 29, 2001 „The Order of Management of Specific Hazardous Waste” and provides adoption of several EU directives in the normative acts of Latvia.

On September 22, in the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, the Regulations Project prepared by the Ministry of the Environment “Amendments for the Cabinet Regulations No 139, February 14, 2006 “„Regulations on the Use and Labeling of Devices and Products Containing Specific Dangerous Chemicals and Environment Hazardous Product List” was announced.

Since 2004 all municipalities are invited to apply for the annual prize „Ābols” held by the Ministry of the Environment. The aim of this contest is to acknowledge those municipalities which support the State policy of environment by implementing projects in environmental infrastructure development and nature protection, as well as informing the society about sustainable development - the meaning and the importance of this concept.

On September 18, in the meeting of the Secretaries of the State, Cabinet of Ministers Regulations Project prepared by the Ministry of the Environment „Amendments for Cabinet of Ministers Regulations No 912 December 18, 2007 „Procedure of Constructing Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment Plants” was announced (hereafter – the Regulations Project).

On September 18, in the meeting of the Secretaries of the State, Cabinet of Ministers Regulations project prepared by the Ministry of the Environment „Amendments for Cabinet of Ministers Regulations No 857 October 19, 2004 „Regulations regarding the order of Exploration and Quality Criteria for Underground Water Resources” was announced.

On September 18, in the meeting of the Secretaries of the State, Cabinet of Ministers Regulations Project prepared by the Ministry of the Environment „Amendments for Cabinet of Ministers Regulations No 92 „Requirements for Elaboration of Monitoring and Monitoring Programs regarding Surface Water, Groundwater and Protected Areas” was announced.

Folowing the proposal from the minister of the Environment Raimonds Vējonis two work groups from the ministry together with external experts have drafted the suggestions in order to promote green public procurement and environment friendly construction. R. Vējonis emphasizes that during the economical crisis it is highly important to develop domestic procurement, and it is also necessary to destroy the myth about environment friendly products and services as very expensive ones – the truth is that they even allow to save up.

The European Commission, in conjunction with Stella Consulting and MWH, will organise an Information Workshop on the LIFE+ Programme in Latvia. The aim of the Workshop is to inform potential applicants for the 2008 Call for Proposals about the LIFE+ Programme, and the requirements for submitting a proposal.

On August 5th, in the session of Cabinet of Ministers an informative notification „Adaption to Climate Changes”, elaborated by the Ministry of the Environment, has been accepted.

For the 12th year Packaging Association of Latvia organizes competition to encourage packaging production and design according to EU common market demands, to support high quality packaging circulation in Latvia and to promote popularization of environmentally friendly packaging.

Annual Conference of Environment Educators will take place from August 1st – 3rd in Eco-school of Limbaži district – Katvari specialized boarding-school. This year Association of Environment Educators will gather interested persons for the 15th time. The main focus of the conference is promotion of public awareness on climate changes. General information on climate changes as well as food for thought how to form one’s behavior more sustainable will be provided for participants. The Conference is financially supported by Latvian Environmental Protection Fund.

From July 31st – August 3rd travelling four day environment and film art festival „Moving Baltic Sea” will take place in Spīķeri and AB mole, Latvia. The festival offers wide program of events, including from panel discussions about the Baltic Sea’s environment protection and environmental and film creative workshops.

Minister of the Environment Raimonds Vējonis holds a view that Latvia must be genetically modified organisms (GMO) free zone. Considering this, Latvia should be against any GMO product cultivation and trading. Minister of the Environment appeals to encourage development of biological agriculture in Latvia, because we have favorable conditions and biological products are becoming more popular in EU.

On July 9th, minister of the Environment Raimonds Vējonis invited representatives from beverage manufacturers, dealers, waste and packaging managers to discuss deposit system establishment for packaging.

In negotiations with European Parliament EU council has obtained that aviation is included in emission trade system, that provision on establishment of emission reserve for rapidly growing airlines is included in Council’s directive project. European Parliament in Committee of Environment, Public Health and Food Safety voted for amendments that do not anticipate establishment of emission reserve for rapidly growing airlines.

On July 3 -4th the minister of the Environment Raimonds Vējonis participates in informal session of council of EU ministers of Environment in Paris.

Ten years after its adoption, the Parties to the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters have agreed to strengthen environmental democracy within the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) region and to promote its principles worldwide.

The Parties to the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters will hold their third meeting in Riga from 11 to 13 June 2008, marking the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention.

During the seventh Baltic Sea States Summit (Riga, Latvia, 4 June 2008), Baltic 21 submitted to the Heads of Government its report “Reaching a Landmark — Ten years of sub-regional cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region”, and launched the Baltic 21 Anniversary Exhibition.

During 2008, Baltic 21 – the Agenda 21 for the Baltic Sea Region – celebrates a landmark. For ten years, Baltic 21 has been advancing sustainable development by coordinating actions and serving as a forum for cooperation across borders and between stakeholders.

On May 16th, media briefing about successful used nuclear fuel exporting from Salaspils nuclear reactor to Russian Federation took place in the ministry of the Environment.

On April 22, in the session of the Cabinet of Ministers, the Informative notification elaborated by Ministry of the Environment “On Position Nr 3 on European Parliament and Council of Europe directive project for waste, with which it cancels various directives” was accepted.

The Ministry of the Environment invites all environmental journalists to submit their works for competition „Best Environmental Journalist 2008”. The competition will take place for the fifth year and is being organized to evaluate professionalism of environmental journalists and to encourage them to prepare stories and programs about environmental issues.

We invite you to participate in the second International Conference „Environmental Science and Education in Latvia and Europe: Education for Sustainable Development. The conference is organized by the Latvian Council of Environmental Science and Education (ESEC), the Ministry of the Environment, Latvian Environmental Protection Fund Administration and United Nations Development Program Bureau in Latvia.

From March 4 – 6, the Minister of the Environment Raimonds Vējonis is on a business visit in the USA. During the visit he participates in Washington International Renewable Energy Conference in Washington.

15 applications are submitted to Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and The Blue Flag Coordination to receive the most popular tourism eco-label „The Blue Flag”. 12 of the applications are for beaches, but 3 – for marinas. This year the applicants for the Blue Flag eco-label are: Liepaja (Southwest beach, Beach at the stadium, Beberliņi sports and leisure path), Ventspils (Ventspils city beach), Engure (Abragciems camping beach), Jūrmala (Majori, Bulduri and Jaunķemeri beaches), Rīga (Vecāķi and Vakarbuļļi beaches) and Daugavpils (Stropi lake beach and beach „Stropu vilnis”). In the marinas category applications are received from Ventspils marina, Pāvilosta yacht centre and Liepaja yacht centre.

The transport sector in the EU must apply rigorous measures to help Europe meet its greenhouse gas emission targets, says a new report published by the European Environment Agency.

On March 3rd, The Minister of the Environment Raimonds Vējonis participates in the EU Environment Council Meeting (Council) in Brussels.

On March 13, at 11:00, public airing of environment impact assessment report about construction of Ingalina Nuclear power plant solid waste storage complex will take place at Daugavpils Region council conference hall, Rigas Street 2, Daugavpils. During public airing representatives of Ignalina Nuclear Power plant will inform about complex’s development and it’s results.

On February 8, a cooperation agreement on mutual experience exchange and aid in development of environment protection and tourism and health resort fields between The Ministry of the Environment and Abkhazia Autonomous Republic of Georgia Tourism and Health resort department was signed.

On February 14, in the meeting of the Secretaries of the State, The Ministry of the Environment introduced a regulations project “Climate Changes Financial Instrument Consultative Council statutes”.

On February 14, in the meeting of the Secretaries of the State, the Ministry of the Environment introduced project of informative notification “On application of financial instrument and ensuring activities for minimizing repeated threats of Daugava’s pollution with oils”.

On February 14, in the session of the Parliament the law “On amendments in June 25, 1998 Aarhus Convention about assessment to information, society’s participating in decision making and opportunity to address to legal institutions on environmental issues”. The law ratifies amendments in Aarhus Convention hence confirming Latvia’s determination to implement additional requirements included in the amendments of the Convention about assessment to information and society’s participation in decision making about intentional spreading of genetically modified organisms in the environment and market.

On February 14, the law „Amendments in Environmental Protection Law” was accepted in the Parliament. Adjustments in the law are made accordingly to European Parliament’s and Council’s regulation (19.03.2001.) (EK) Nr. 761/2001, which allows organizations to participate in European Community’s environmental management and audit system voluntary, as well as terms are deferred for output of laws and regulations for the Cabinet of Ministers.

On February 22, seminar „Financing attraction to Natura 2000 territories”, organized by the Ministry of the Environment, World Wildlife Fund and European Commission, is taking place in the Ministry of the Environment, Riga, Peldu Street 25, Room 409.

The 2nd International Conference “Environmental Science and Education in Latvia and Europe” will be held in Riga, Latvia, on March 14, 2008.

On 18 January 2008, Mr Raimonds Vējonis, Minister of Environment of the Republic of Latvia, and Mr Dominique Marbouty, Director of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), signed a co-operation agreement at ECMWF’s headquarters in Reading, United Kingdom. Mr Andris Leitass, Director of the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Agency, attended the ceremony. The agreement will enter into force once it has been ratified by the Latvian Parliament.

On January 8, in the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, draft law “On amendments in June 25, 1998 Aarhus Convention about assessment to information, society’s participating in decision making and opportunity to address to legal institutions on environmental issues”, elaborated by the Ministry of the Environment, was examined.

On January 8, in the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, II National Notification of Aarhus Convention Implementation elaborated by the Ministry of the Environment was accepted.