According to Maris Kucinskis (Prime Minister of Latvia), it is not necessary to declare a state of emergency, since to eliminate the consequences of a prolonged drought, it is not necessary to apply support measures that would go beyond the current regulatory acts.
The Council decided to forward a proposal to the Cabinet of Ministers to declare a national disaster in agriculture, since this status will help farmers to respond to a specific situation.
According to the Minister of Agriculture Janis Duklavs classified national disaster will allow agricultural producers in the event of failure to meet contractual obligations to avoid sanctions, for example, in case if during drought they do not have time to finish projects with EU co-financing, or do not fulfill obligations to the lending institutions.
But he also stressed that the declaration of a natural disaster in the state does not mean compensation for damage caused by a drought.
Requests to declare a state of emergency came from the regions of Ventspils, Kuldiga, Madona, Cesvaine, Aknista, Kandava, Ergli, Talsi, Gulbeni, Pavilosta, Nereta, Tukums, Nica, Rezekne, Aizputa, Alsunga, Rundale, Tervete, Balvi, Engure and Jaunjelgava affected by the drought.
