The project has attracted the attention of parliamentarians because its costs in the Baltic countries have grown from initial estimates of less than 6 billion euros to almost 24 billion – with no certainty about even that figure.
As policymakers and engineers alike try to decide what is to be done and who will pay for it, Saeima deputies got down to their first probing, beginning to identify which documents to request and which officials to invite to the future meetings of the investigative commission, which is expected to produce a report within 6 months – though like Rail Baltica itself, this deadline can be extended.
According to Latvian Radio's reporter, members of the parliamentary investigation commission agreed that they will first invite the auditors of the State Audit Office to explain what they concluded about the Rail Baltica project's misfortunes in their recent audit.
In addition, representatives of the General Prosecutor's Office will clarify the parameters of their own investigation into the project. "This investigation focuses on the fact that officials [allegedly] exceeded their authority," explained prosecutor Armīns Reinis.
The next session of the parliamentary investigation commission is planned for next week, July 19 – but it will be closed to the public as confidential information is expected to be disclosed.
The head of the investigation commission is Saeima deputy Andris Kulbergs of the opposition United List political force.
"If there is no money, the government should conduct an audit of what we can afford, instead of going ahead without knowing where this railway line will be," Kulbergs said.
In the continuation of the investigation commission's work, deputies plan to question both the current and former prime ministers, ministers of transport, the management of the companies responsible for the progress of the "Rail Baltica" project, including the RB Rail joint venture and other current and former management members.
At Thursday's commission meeting, the deputies also expressed their concerns that discussions could get bogged down in too much detail, but at the same time, the majority agreed that the progress of the "Rail Baltica" project continue, taking into account the contributions it is expeced to make to the economy and military mobility.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Evika Siliņa (New Unity) said in an interview on Latvian Radio that she expects the commission to be impartial and work in the interests of society.
"We agreed in the coalition that the Minister of Transport has to start negotiations with the builders about this last price increase, looking for ways to determine the inflation ceiling of the price increase in the contract, which would be normal, because we, as a country, cannot afford to pay unlimited inflationary increases," said Siliņa, referring to unpaid bills worth millions for which builders are currenty demanding payment.
