On January 13th, the Latvian government supported amendments to the Cabinet of Ministers’ regulations, proposed by the Ministry of Transport, which provide for the possibility of donating used buses to Ukraine when they have been replaced with new electric buses as part of the modernization of Riga’s public transport system.

The move allows for practical support to the Ukrainian society, including for the logistical and humanitarian needs of the armed forces.

“These amendments to the regulatory framework allow us to combine a sustainable transport policy with real support for Ukraine. If vehicles are no longer needed to provide public transport in Riga, it is only logical to give them a second chance, while simultaneously helping Ukrainian society in wartime conditions,” said Minister of Transport Atis Švinka (Progressives).

The clarifications to the rules are to ensure more flexible regulation in the implementation of the project implemented within the framework of EU funding. From now on, transport units replaced with electric buses will be able to be handed over for processing in accordance with the Law on End-of-Life Vehicle Management or donated to the Ukrainian society in cases specified in the Law on Support to Civilians of Ukraine.

As previously reported by LSM, Latvia has already sent many buses to Ukraine – the new move should ensure that this continues seamlessly when surplus buses become available.

The Riga Public Transport Greening Project is being implemented within the framework of the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Mechanism. Its aim is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by increasing the share of zero-emission vehicles and promoting the use of environmentally friendly public transport. As part of the project, 17 electric buses have already been purchased in Riga and a fast-charging infrastructure for electric buses with seven charging points is being built.

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