On Thursday, 22 June, the Saeima adopted in the second and final reading the Law on Establishing the Selonia Military Training Area, which establishes special legal regulations for setting the borders of the military training area, the expropriation and use of immovable property within the area, and construction of infrastructure.

The law provides that the Selonia Military Training Area will be deemed an object of national interest. The law also stipulates that national and municipal institutions, as well as other bodies shall have to give priority to and expedite the examining of all submissions and queries and taking decisions pertaining to the construction of the infrastructure of the training area and the provision and performance of any work related thereto.

Furthermore, the law also envisions the establishing of a right of use on behalf of the state as regards property belonging to other persons, which is necessary for commencing and performing construction of the infrastructure for the military training area. The right of use shall be in effect until the land will be expropriated pursuant to the Law on the Alienation of Immovable Property Necessary for Public Needs.

30 days prior to commencing works the Ministry of Defence shall inform the owner of the property that a right of use has been placed on their property and construction of infrastructure for the military training area will be commenced there.

The Ministry shall have the right to begin removing trees and bushes, as well as perform other preparations for construction and construction works on the property to be expropriated after it has taken a decision on the amount of fair compensation.

The law envisions that by 11 July of this year the Cabinet of Ministers shall issue regulations on the creation of the military training area, establish its borders, identify the properties falling within the territory of the training area and the properties for which a right of use shall be established.

The Law on Establishing the Selonia Military Training Area shall come into effect on the next day after its proclamation.

The Saeima also adopted in the second and final reading related draft laws providing for the development of infrastructure at existing military training areas.

Saeima Press Service