Eurostat, 'FINAL FINDINGS Eurostat EDP dialogue visit to Latvia'
The document highlighted in blue above contains detailed information on Europe's ESA-95 accounting procedure and adjustments made. The report covers Latvia in 2017, and includes reference to the procedure used for the write-off of 'bad bank' Reverta as well as a sale of Citadele towards the EBRD through an equity-option of 25% plus 1 share, after it was acquired first by the Latvian Privatization Authority. It contains relevant information for subsequent financial policies in the EU. Citadele and Reverta have been established following the bail-out of Parex in 2009.
Since the file can no longer be found on Eurostat, it has been attached on the right. (URL:<https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/1015035/8054610/Final-findings-EDP-dialogue-visit-LV-7-9-June-2017.pdf>) Question in this context is what led to the decision for removal.
The European Statistics Code of Practice says the following with regard to independence and objectivity of methods for collection and dissemination:
Parex Restrucuring Plan (excerpt from FTM)
This file is still available at FTM, yet we have decided to include it as it contains vital information on the Parex bail-out process and the usage of a secret 'put-option agreement'.
'OVERVIEW OF JSC PAREX BANKA TAKEOVER'
(8 May 2009). Updated in 2010
URL: <https://www.fktk.lv/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Parnemsanas_apskats_02.02Eng.pdf>
The document contains detailed information on the nationalisation and bail-out of Parex Banka (now defunct). When attempting to open the URL, which leads to the Bank of Latvia (Latvijas Banka), an error-notification is given on its website (see snapshot below).
Moreover, the website fktk.lv has been disabled.
According to our obtained data, the corresponding URL must have been disabled on or at around 4 August 2025 (see second snapshot below on the right).
Yet the file itself could be retrieved. See the attachment on the right.
A core question in this context is whether or not the file was removed per decision of the Latvijas Banka in an independent manner, or per instruction of its government or another external party.
In the arrest in ECLI:EU:C:2021:969 on the 30th of November 2021, paragraph 19 says the following in reference to the Law on the Central Bank of Latvia:
"It is apparent from Article 13 of that law that the Governor, the Vice-Governor and the Members of the Board of the Central Bank of Latvia may not solicit or accept any instruction from the Government of the Republic of Latvia or from those of the other Member States of the European Union, the EU institutions and other national, foreign or international institutions or bodies thereof. That article also provides, in accordance with Article 130 TFEU, that those governments, institutions and their bodies may not give instructions to the Governor, the Vice-Governor or the Members of the Board of the Central Bank of Latvia, or seek to influence them in any other way in the performance of their duties. The Central Bank of Latvia is to adopt its decisions and implement them independently."
'Memorandum of Understanding between the European Community and the Republic of Latvia' (2009)
The Memorandum of Understanding is a document of January 2009 and details the conditions under which the IMF and EC provided financial assistance to Latvia.
It was accessible on the following URL of the European Commission, which outlines the main terms of the financial assistance of 3.1 billion Euros: <https://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/articles/financial_operations/article13872_en.htm>.
Since the page itself has been archived on 21st of January 2017 (see snapshot), the MoU can no longer be accessed on that page, hence we have retrieved it and attached on the right.
The archive of journalist Steve Komarnyckyj on EU Today (ranked chronologically)
Steve Komarnyckyj is a journalist, author and literary translator. He has written several articles for EU Today, which refers to the fact that his works have appeared on Index for Censorship. In the meantime, his articles have been removed. We have included them over here with the relevant URLs.
I. 'The Ghosts of Christmas Past...' (02nd of January 2020)
<https://eutoday.net/news/business-economy/2020/ghosts2>
II. 'The KGB enters the European Parliament' (19th of February, 2020)
<https://eutoday.net/news/politics/2020/ushakov-kgb>
II. 'The Atlantic Council: independent think tank, or lobbyists for oligarchs?' (26th of March 2020)
This article - written on 26 March 2020 - highlights the risks posed by corruption in the EU due to potential conflicts of interest by The Atlantic Council. <https://eutoday.net/news/politics/2020/atlantic-council>. (This URL has been removed from EU Today)
IV. 'The KGB enters the European Parliament' (19th of February, 2020)
<https://eutoday.net/news/politics/2020/latvia-the-law>