ADMINISTRATIVE TERRITORIAL REFORM

Abstract

The study analyzes the administrative-territorial reform started in 2019. There are a large number of administrative units in Latvia – 119 municipalities. Compared to other European countries, Latvia has a low population density of 1 km2. The population remains below each year and therefore financial resources to cover administrative expenditure are increasing every year. Many municipalities no longer comply with the statutory requirements and are unable to provide the functions specified for them. In 2019, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development has launched an administratively territorial reform to reduce the number of administrative units. The article aim to explore the forthcoming administratively territorial reform and its impact on residents in Latgale. The author of the article studied the reform, its purpose and substance, profiles of municipalities established by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development, carried out a survey of Latgale residents in order to find out the opinion of the population on the reform, as well as analysing the migration of Latgale municipalities' labour force.