Latvia hails progress after joining EU

Latvian President Andris Berzins said that joining the European Union (EU) was a symbolic return to space where Latvia had been a part for centuries, LETA reported on Wednesday. Latvia will on May 1 observe the 10th anniversary of becoming an EU member. In the speech during a reception on the occasion, the president thanked all EU member states that 10 years ago unanimously took the historical decision to enlarge the union by 10 more countries. "It was a bold enlargement, taking into account the different development and historical experience of the joining countries," the president said. Berzins cited a few figures to show the positive impact of this 10 years on the economy of Latvia. "Latvian gross domestic product (GDP) has increased by 30 percent during the last 10 years, while real wages have increased by 45 percent," said the president. "Owing to the European Union support, 870 km of our roads were built or reconstructed, almost 60,000 grants were allocated to students for professional education, 405 health care facilities were improved. Also agriculture is among the beneficiary branches. Its added value doubled since 2004," added Berzins.