Taking into consideration the current emergency situation, which requires reviewing and making adjustments in the draft Latvian National Development Plan for 2021-2027 (NAP2027), on May 11 the Civic Alliance - Latvia submitted a repeated opinion to the Saeima’s Sustainable Development Commission on both the draft NAP2027 and NAP2027 indicative investment projects.

The CAL evaluates the draft NAP2027 developed by the Cross-Sectoral Coordination Centre (CSCC) on its merits, but calls for editorial corrections aiming at maintaining the original intention to focus the NAP2027 on people , for whom it is important to set ambitious goals for strengthening civil society, democracy and the rule of law. We urge the NAP2027 to include political commitment to conduct civil society development policies, including civic and political participation, civic education and public awareness of democratic processes in the country, volunteering, philanthropy and encouragement of other important democratic and social initiatives.

The need for such policy strengthening is also confirmed by the Covid-19 crisis, in the mitigation of which the civil society, including various voluntary movements, has taken an active part.

In its opinion, the CAL calls on the Saeima deputies, while observing the Declaration on the Development of Civil Society in Latvia and Cooperation with Non-Governmental Organizations, to mark civil society as one of the priorities of the Latvian state in NAP2027. You can read more about the opinion here.