It has already been 20 years since Latvia joined the European Union (EU). In the TV24 program “The week. Post Scriptum” is visited by Dr. biol., professor, former deputy of the Republic of Lithuania, Prime Minister (2004), Speaker of the Saeima (2006-2007) Indulis Emsis.
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Remembering the time 20 years ago, when Indulis Emsis was the prime minister, he said his famous phrase: “Latvia is burning in blue flames.” It was related to how legislation and authorities should be adjusted to join the EU.
Indulis Emsis explains that the two prime ministers before him were Einars Repše and Andris Bērziņš. “Bērziņš did a great job to finish the negotiations with the EU so that Latvia could join the EU. He actually completed all these negotiation procedures. Only one or two remained.”
Emsis explains how such negotiations generally take place: the country, in this case Latvia, undertakes to do something.
There is a commitment to make changes to specific regulatory acts. To restructure politics and various sectors of life, and to change the current way of life so that it is integrated into the common policy of the EU.
“That is the agreement. Europe will support us with its knowledge and money for this,” explains Indulis Emsis.
However, after coming to power, Emsis has established that much of what Latvia has promised has not been done.
“It was promised, it was signed, the accession was approaching, but de facto the documents are still in disarray. It shocked me! I said, Latvia is burning in blue flames!
We have to stand up now, and if someone starts looking at what we have promised and what we have done, then there is a very big discrepancy between these things.”
Therefore, it was necessary to reorganize the work of the government in order to be able to adopt regulatory documents in a very short time. Changes were made to the agenda of the government. There were four full working days just for accepting the documents.
“You can understand what this means for civil service? For a civil servant, this means working from morning to evening and also during the night hours, because the documents had to be brought to the Cabinet of Ministers for approval.
I had to specifically go to the office, talk to them, ask them to understand this situation, be supportive and appreciate their hard work. And we made it!”
Indulis Emsis remembers that afterwards he received criticism that much of it was not discussed and not ready, to which he objected that it was not set in stone. Corrections are allowed: “But as of this reporting moment, we can say: hey, we’ve done our homework.”
“And then the satisfaction that you can go to Washington and join NATO and know that your homework is done.
And even join the EU later. March 29 – NATO and May 1 EU,” Indulis Emsis shares his memories of the emotions of that time.
“We did it!” the former prime minister states with satisfaction. “I have to say again, thank you to the civil service of that time, the diplomatic service, which worked extremely selflessly at that time without grumbling.”
Indulis Emsis also commends all previous governments that took this course and consistently maintained it, regardless of who was at the helm of the government, the course did not change. Even the opposition supported this course without a murmur.
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Tags: shocked Latvia burning blue flames Indulis Emsis remembers time Latvia preparing join
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