ABSTRACT

This chapter focuses on the experience of the Latgale Region. The Latgale Region is of particular interest, because it is the poorest region in Latvia, and also because, and maybe as a consequence of being the poorest region, it was the first Latvian region to work actively with regional policy after harnessing European Union (EU) pre-accession funds. The chapter analyses the regional policy context and the Structural Funds interventions in Latvia and provide an outline of the basic principles and instruments of Latvian regional development policy with a special focus on Latgale Regional Development Agency (RDA). It focuses on how the strategic partnership approach has been used in Latgale as well as a discussion of the policies and strategies aimed at reducing the prosperity gap between Latgale and the rest of the country. In terms of territorial capital, the Latgale Region is characterised by important transport infrastructure, numerous lakes and a high quality landscape.