Zahraniční obchod Lotyšska po vstupu do EU

This bachelor thesis analyses the development of Latvia's foreign trade before and after its accession to the European Union and assesses the potential impact of the Rail Baltica infrastructure project. The thesis aims to evaluate how EU accession has transformed Latvian foreign trade, not only in terms of total volume, but also in terms of changes in its territorial and commodity structure. Another objective is to assess the potential impact of the Rail Baltica project on the development of Latvian exports and the associated risks, including new security challenges. The thesis is divided into three main chapters. The first chapter focuses on theory, defining the historical context and key expectations associated with EU accession. The second chapter analyses data from 1994 to 2022 and examines real changes in the territorial and commodity structure of trade. The third chapter presents a case study of the Rail Baltica project, evaluating its future benefits through a comparison with similar foreign projects and a model calculation. The results show that EU accession led to a fundamental shift in trade links towards Western markets and to the overall modernisation of exports. The analysis of the Rail Baltica project confirms its potential for further growth in Latvian exports. It highlights its key role not only in economic development but also in ensuring national security and the country's logistical independence.