Working Life Barometer in the Baltic Countries 2002 (pdf) - mol.fi

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improved, the institutional set-up has been strengthened and public
awareness and involvement of civil society are rising.
Latvia continues to observe human rights and freedoms. Latvia has
encouraged further integration of non-citizens into Latvian society by
removing language requirements in the election law, and increasing support to
facilitate the naturalisation process, coupled with the activities of the Society
Integration Foundation in this area. As of August 31, 2002 about 514 298
(22.0%) of the Latvian total population were non-citizens. The number of noncitizens
is slowly decreasing (from 24.6% in 2000 to 22.0% in 2002).
By August 2002, more than 56 000 naturalisation applications had been
received and 55 439 persons had obtained Latvian citizenship since the
beginning of naturalisation in 1995. Altogether, 7 540 children had been
granted Latvian citizenship by August 2002.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS IN THE CONTEXT OF
LATVIA’S INTEGRATION INTO THE EU
The preparation for participation in the EU internal market is well advanced
and Latvia has achieved a good level in this area. As regards free movement of
goods, the legal and institutional framework is generally in place. There has
been sustained development of the standardisation system. The reform of the
market surveillance system and its infrastructure, including on food safety and
in the field of public procurement, however requires further strengthening. The
process of bringing Latvia’s legislation and structures in relation to the free
movement of persons into line with the acquis 1 has developed satisfactorily,
although further efforts are required, especially on mutual recognition of
professional qualifications as well as on strengthening institutional capacity. In
the area of freedom to provide services, legislative alignment has advanced,
notably regarding financial services and banking, but further work remains
necessary regarding insurance and securities. In the area of capital movements,
legislative alignment is well advanced, but the process needs to be completed
as regards capital movements and payments.
1
The word “acquis” means the implementation of the European Union’s legislation, known as the
“Acquis communautaire”.