This week, a Ukrainian delegation visited the Rail Baltica project site at Riga Airport Station as part of the EU4PFM project, which aims to enhance public financial management in Ukraine. The study trip provided the delegation with insights into the management and public procurement processes of large infrastructure projects in Latvia, including Rail Baltica.
The delegation included officials from various Ukrainian public procurement oversight bodies, such as the Verkhovna Rada, the Ministry of Economy, the Accounting Chamber, the State Audit Service, and the Antimonopoly Committee. During their visit, the Ukrainian representatives sought to understand the practices and procedures used in Rail Baltica’s procurement processes. They were preparing for extensive recovery efforts in Ukraine and aimed to learn from Latvia’s experience with large infrastructure projects and the lessons learned.
Baiba Zauere, Management Board Member of “Eiropas Dzelzceļa līnijas,” shared insights into Rail Baltica’s progress and procurement management practices. In her presentation, she emphasized the need for clear expectation management of key stakeholders and the public, effective project planning and control, and the development of a robust financing model.
Cooperation with Ukraine assumes even greater strategic significance following the adoption of a revised EU regulation on guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (TEN-T), set to take effect this summer. This new regulation expands the reach of four European Transport Corridors of the TEN-T network into Ukraine and Moldova, including the Northern Sea-Baltic corridor, which includes Rail Baltica.
“Considering the expansion of the Trans-European Transport Network corridors and future connection with Ukraine, the strategic importance of Rail Baltica is increasing. The project will play a significant role not only in transportation and passenger services but also from a security perspective. Cooperation and support between Rail Baltica and Ukraine are essential for advancing the path to peace,” said Baiba Zauere.
Liene Vigule, Deputy Director of Finance at “Eiropas Dzelzceļa līnijas,” discussed the practices derived from procurement system audits and answered questions from the Ukrainian delegation. Additionally, Ewald Brandner, Project Director at B.S.L. Infra, and Aleksejs Tokarevs, Construction Manager, shared their experiences with the construction plans for the Rail Baltica station at Riga Airport and the involvement of foreign companies in the project execution.
Tetiana Prisikara, a representative of the Ukrainian parliamentary committee, remarked on the valuable insights gained about the Rail Baltica project’s progress and future impact. Eriks Mezalis, head of the EU4PFM public procurement component, highlighted the importance of experience exchange and the continued collaboration on international platforms to strengthen cooperation between the two countries.
By learning from Latvia’s experience, Ukraine aims to enhance its own public procurement and infrastructure development processes, contributing to the country’s recovery and long-term economic growth.