If you ask ordinary Latvian citicent most of them dont feel anything about EU. Many of them cant see the benefit of being a part of EU. Corruption is still strong in the country. The rich get richter and ordinary people get poorer. Political people dont feel and understand ho ordinary people have it.

Riga, did you previously say that you live in Norway?

I would like to express my appreciation to RT for publishing a lengthy article on a subject related to the Baltics that is factual and free of political barbs. Perhaps RT has noticed the radically anti-Baltic attitudes which most contributors to the Comments sections of Baltics-related articles display.While not as sophisticated as most Russian media output, their contributions nevertheless faithfully reflect the same underlying attitude of disparagement bordering on outright contempt, and the same disdain for facts that seem to characterize so much of Russia's media and official expressions regarding BAltic countris. Over many years the media has conditioned Russians and Russian apologists to consider such demonizing to be factual, justified and "normal", and this has set up a huge barrier hindering Russia to heal relations with the Baltics. Contrasting articles like the current one need to appear as the norm not just in foreign-language Russian media outlets, but much more importantly, in domestic Russian publications and broadcasts.

"In 2014, Latvia will join the Eurozone as planned...." ....assuming the Eurozone still exists in 2014. Keeping a single currency amongst countries with quite different fiscal policies is not working and the Euro has only just started unravelling. It remains to be seen whether the populations of countries who spend more than they earn will accept the necessary fiscal constraints that are about to be applied. Certainly German taxpayers don't see why they should be made to work until 67 before retiring, in order to subsidise Greek public sector workers who retire at 55. The idea of |Germany deserting the Euro is popular in Germany, despite the attempts of politicians to discourage such views. As they have substantial debts with banks in Sweden and elsewhere, Latvia seems likely to be viewed in the same light as Greece, Portugal and other "problem" EU states. I think Latvia would be smart to keep their currency - it allows for the possibility for devaluation that discourages imports and encourages exports - something which helped pull Britain out of recession in the 90s.