Cabinet of Ministers Regulations No. 596 in Riga 2 august 2011 (pr. No 46 24) marine Council Regulations Issued under the protection of the marine environment and the management of law 7. the third paragraph of article i. General questions 1. Marine Environment Council (hereinafter Council) is a consultative and coordinating body whose objective is to promote marine development and implementation of the strategy of participating in Government and local government bodies, associations and foundations, as well as operators and other interest groups (hereinafter referred to as the parties) cooperation and harmonization of views.
2. The decisions of the Council's recommendations.
II. the Council functions, tasks and rights 3. The Council has the following functions: 3.1. to facilitate communication between stakeholders, and coordinated action on issues related to marine environmental protection and Management Act goals and implementation;
3.2. to coordinate maritime strategy development and implementation of the cooperation of the parties concerned;
3.3. evaluation by the marine strategy and the implementation of related documents;
3.4. to cooperate in developing a programme of activities improvement of the marine environment (hereinafter referred to as the programme);
3.5. to contribute to the protection of the marine environment and the sustainable use of the sea for the preparation of related information that the deadline for providing the European Union institutions, as well as the Helsinki Commission and the International Maritime Organization (IMO), in accordance with the international conventions;
3.6. to inform the media and the public about the current marine environmental issues as well as matters referred to ensure communication with the media and the public.
4. in order to implement the provisions referred to in paragraph 3, the Council shall perform the following tasks: 4.1 the marine strategy process, the evaluated documents for compliance with the public interest and the European Union's integrated maritime policies and give the protection of the environment and regional development Ministry findings and recommendations on: 4.1.1 marine environmental status initial assessment;
4.1.2. a good marine environmental status definition;
4.1.3. marine environmental targets and associated indicators;
4.1.4. the marine environment monitoring program;
4.2. provides the protection of the environment and regional development Ministry proposals for measures to be included in the programme of measures (including in connection with maritime spatial planning), and on the priorities of the financial and other resources in the programme of activities included raising measures;
4.3. identify gaps that hinder the attainment of the objectives of the marine environment in Latvia, and, if necessary, make proposals to the competent authorities;
4.4. providing regular exchange of information between the parties on policy planning and drafting of documents for the European Union's integrated maritime policy measures for the protection of the marine environment, marine resources conservation, marine scientific research, marine observation and data network and unified maritime information exchange system;
4.5. provide proposals for the protection of the environment and regional development Ministry to ensure the conformity of the marine strategy, the European Union's integrated maritime policy action plan, the European Union strategy for the Baltic Sea action plan, HELCOM Baltic Sea action plan, Latvia's international obligations of the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) (relating to the protection of the marine environment and maritime safety in the maritime sector), the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) and other European institutions and international organisations.
5. the Council shall have the right to: 5.1. to receive from the European Union's integrated maritime policy stakeholders in the implementation of the Council available to them functions require information or opinions;
5.2. create a working group of experts to analyze specific issues and to develop appropriate proposals, as well as national, public and business interests in the marine environmental policy;
5.3. invite to meetings of the Council of State, municipal and other officials of the institutions or experts, invite experts in an advisory capacity or industry professionals with a separate marine strategies and actions for the development of the evaluation issues;
5.4. to make recommendations to the public and to individuals for the protection of the marine environment, which affect the use of the sea under the protection of the marine environment and management rules;
5.5. to submit to the protection of the environment and regional development Minister proposals for changes in the composition of the Council (including reasons);
5.6 Insert the media and the Ministry's home page on the internet for information about the decisions of the Council;
5.7. to cooperate with other advisory bodies to deal with the use of the sea and the protection of the marine environment issues;
5.8. to consider proposals on legislative and policy planning document for the development of projects in connection with the use of the sea and the protection of the marine environment;
5.9. to give proposals on policy planning documents and draft laws relating to the use of the sea and the marine environment.
III. composition of the Council 6. Council shall consist of not more than 20 members of the Council: 6.1. a representative of the Ministry of defence;
6.2. a representative of the Ministry of the economy;
6.3. the Ministry of education and science of the representative;
6.4. a representative of the Ministry of transport;
6.5. two representatives of the Ministry of agriculture (agriculture and fisheries);
6.6. the four environmental protection and Ministry of regional development agents;
6.7. the national joint stock company "Latvian maritime administration" representative;
6.8. the two Latvian authorities delegated to coastal authorities of the Union Association;
6.9. The Latvian transit business association representative;
6.10. the representative of the Association of the port;
6.11. the National Research Institute for food safety, animal health and Environmental Research Institute "BIOR" representative ";
6.12. the two environmental Advisory Council representatives;
6.13. The Fisheries Advisory Council representative;
6.14. The maritime Union representative.
7. The provisions of paragraph 6 of the said institutions delegate representatives to work in the Council, as well as inform the environmental protection and regional development Minister for the delegated representative.
8. The President of the Council and Deputy Chairman of the Council's environmental protection and regional development Ministry spokesman.
IV. Organization of the work of the Council 9. The work of the Council chaired by the President of the Council. Council in the absence of the President, his duties shall be the Deputy Chairman of the Council. Sitting of the Council rules of procedure approved by the Council.
10. The President of the Council at least every six months, convened by the Council meeting by sending an invitation no later than two weeks before the meeting. Extraordinary meetings shall be convened at the initiative of the President of the Council or at the request of a members of the Council. Invitation to the extraordinary meeting sent not later than five days before the hearing.
11. The members of the Council shall submit to the Council proposals for the Council the President issues under consideration. The President of the Council 20 days looking proposals submitted and take a decision on the question of the inclusion in the agenda of the Council.
12. The provisions referred to in paragraph 6, representatives of the institutions have the right to work in the Council to call on the relevant specialists. The members of the Council in the absence of the technician is to vote. The President of the Council shall be informed of the evidence of experts at least three working days before the scheduled hearing.
13. The President of the Council shall approve the agenda of the Council, chaired the meeting of the Council, sign the minutes of meetings and tasks as well as to the members of the Council, without express authorisation by the representative Council.
14. the Council meetings are open to the public. The Council is valid if its sitting on more than half of the members of the Council.
15. the Council decision shall be adopted by a simple majority, a vote. If the vote splits equal, the Chairman of the Board shall have a casting vote.
16. the minutes of the Council. The Protocol specifies the agenda items, the meeting participants, persons who have commented on the matter, and the decisions taken. Everyone in the meeting participant has the right to request that his objections would be recorded in the minutes, and he has the right to inform the public about them.
17. the minutes of the proceedings of the Council within five working days after the meeting of the Council electronically to all members of the Council. The Council members about the decisions of the Council shall inform the institutions that they represent.
18. The protection of the environment and regional development Ministry carried out the duties of the Secretariat of the Council and of the budgetary resources allocated to it facilities to ensure the Council's activities. The members of the Council on the work of the Council shall not receive remuneration.
Prime Minister – the Minister of Justice, Minister of Interior of the duty of the artist a. Štokenberg of environmental protection and regional development Minister r. vējonis