The Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments (LALRG) is an association uniting the municipalities and cities of the Republic of Latvia on a voluntary basis. It was founded on 15 December 1991 and according to the law is entitled to negotiate with the government of the Republic of Latvia. The LALRG’s members are 41 Latvian municipalities: 36 municipalities and 5 cities.
The main aims of the LALRG:
- local government policy-making in Latvia;
- solution of municipal problems;
- defending the interests of local governments.
The tasks of the LALRG:
- to represent the interests of the LALRG and its members and defend their rights in state authorities and administrative institutions;
- to develop the LALRG’s opinion on Latvian local government policy in accordance with the proposals of local governments and their associations;
- to promote cooperation between Latvian municipalities and their associations;
- to provide municipalities with the information and services they need;
- to organize training for local politicians and employees of municipalities;
- to promote social protection of municipal employees;
- to promote international cooperation among municipalities and their associations;
- to represent the LALRG’s and its members’ interests in the European Union, the Council of Europe and other international institutions.