RIGA, April 27 (LETA) - Local governments will have the rights to decide on formation of merged local administrations, according to amendments to the Law on Local Governments.

This will replace the current regulations that a permission of the environment protection and regional development minister is needed in order to establish a common rural territory or city administration in the relevant municipality town or municipality rural territory or in two municipality rural territories.

The Environment Protection and Regional Development Ministry said that it has received requests for such merged administrations from ten local governments.

The ministry said that such decisions are a matter of local government competence, and each municipality has different socio-economic and geographical situation, and only the local government is aware of the best solutions in this respect.