First regional planning institutions in Latvia were founded in 1997, as local government initiative to coordinate regional planning process. In nowadays, according to Law of Regional Development, in Latvia are five planning regions that covers all territory of Latvia – Planning region of Kurzeme, Planning region of Latgale, Planning region of Riga, Planning region of Vidzeme and Planning region of Zemgale.
The area of each planning region, according to local government proposals, is prescribed by Regulation Nr.133 „Regulations of territory of planning regions” issued by the Cabinet of Ministers (25.03.2003).
The main function of the Planning Regions is to coordinate cooperation with others region municipalities, government institutions, international institutions and others juridical and physical persons to develop long standing Regions, inter alia:
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to establish long-term development by the main fundamental principles, aims and priorities in the each Region;
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to coordinate and elaborate development of Planning Region according to the main established principles, aims and priorities;
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in collaboration with local governments and state administration institutions draft, supervise and monitor the process of working out and implementation of mid-term and long-term development planning documents (spatial plans and development program’s of local governments);
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to evaluate consistency of national planning, national development plan and united documentary according to development program and territorial planning in the Planning Region;
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to evaluate and give resolution for project applications of local government and individuals to draw material state support for regional development.
Before there were made amendments in Law of Regional Development, there weren’t special legal status for planning regions, so there were situation that state functions which are definite by Law of Regional Development were implemented by NGO (non governmental organizations). Since there were made amendments in Law of Regional Development (in 01.08.2006), planning regions get legal status of state administration institution, which are supervised by the Ministry of Regional Development and Local Government.. Decision making structure in each Region is Development board.
For putting into effect responsibilities Development board of planning region ratifies planning region statute and budget, and is empowered form, reorganize and wind up institutions and companies of planning region, the same as delegate some responsibilities to individuals.
