On Thursday, 20 December, the Saeima adopted the final wording of the National Development Plan 2014-2020 (NDP 2020).
The NDP 2020 was adopted with 81 votes for and 7 MPs abstaining.
Raimonds Vējonis, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Monitoring the Drafting and Implementation of the National Development Plan, had earlier pointed out that “drafting, discussing and improving the NDP 2020 has taken a lot of effort, and this is the first planning document that is directly linked with funding from the state budget. In order to attain the objectives defined in the document, it is essential to ensure that the links with the funding are retained also in the following financial planning periods”.
The NDP is the principal medium-term planning document that defines the national development objectives, priorities and appropriate courses, as well as the results to be achieved and the responsible institutions.
The NDP 2020 is a medium-term vision of the national development that defines national priorities such as economic growth, human securitability and growth-oriented territories. These priorities are aimed at the economic breakthrough with the ultimate goal of ensuring general welfare.
It is planned to promote economic growth by targeting specific measures at facilitating entrepreneurship, attracting investment and increasing productivity, while adhering to the principles of social responsibility. The following target areas have been identified: manufacturing, logistics and transit, business environment, production-oriented public infrastructure, creative industries, public governance, civic participation, as well as secure and competitive energy.
The priority of human securitability is aimed at promoting individuals’ capabilities to adapt to the rapidly changing environment in order to strengthen people’s confidence in their ability to generate sufficient income, thus ensuring personal and collective development. The main target areas include employment, health care, education, inequality reduction, demographic situation, social cohesion and creativity.
The growth-oriented territories priority is focused on accessibility to services, infrastructure, interaction between urban and rural areas, non-agricultural production, farming, cooperation, processing, as well as efficient and sustainable use of natural resources.
The NDP 2020 will serve as a basis for planning the annual and medium-term state budget expenditure, investments from the European Union structural funds and other international financial instruments.
The Saeima and its Public Administration and Local Government Committee’s Subcommittee on Monitoring the Drafting and Implementation of the National Development Plan will play an important role in monitoring and assessing implementation of the NDP 2020 on the part of the Cabinet of Ministers.
Saeima Press Service