On Friday, October 17, the EU-Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner, arrived in Latvia for a working visit. The Commissioner, together with the Minister of the Interior, Rihards Kozlovskis, visited Latvia's eastern border to familiarize himself with the current situation on the border and the progress of infrastructure development.
Visiting the Latvia-Belarus border, the Commissioner emphasized that Latvia is carrying out significant work, protecting not only its own state but also the security of the entire European Union. Mr. Brunner noted that Belarus and Russia are using migrants as an instrument of political pressure against Europe, and also stressed how important it is to understand Latvia's situation, experience, and needs to ensure adequate support under these circumstances. Mr. Brunner underlined that the European Commission understands and is actively providing support for the protection of the European Union's external land border.
In turn, the Minister of the Interior, Mr. Kozlovskis, emphasized that Europe is safe only if its eastern border is safe, and that is precisely why the protection of the eastern border must be one of the strategic priorities for the entire European Union. Mr. Kozlovskis also referred to the statement by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the importance of the unified defense capabilities of EU countries and the significance of investments in the region's security.
"A unified understanding among EU countries regarding common defense capabilities is very essential, as well as how important EU investments are to the security of our region. The European Commissioner's visit to the eastern border is very significant—it clearly demonstrates Latvia's achievements to date for a secure EU eastern border, and we also explain exactly how we are currently guarding the external eastern border against illegal migration," said Mr. Kozlovskis.
Currently, the State Joint Stock Company "Valsts nekustamie īpašumi" (State Real Estate) has already completed the construction of the fence on the Latvia-Belarus border, patrol roads, and associated infrastructure. In turn, with substantial and invaluable co-financing from the European Union, the State Joint Stock Company "Latvijas Valsts radio un televīzijas centrs" (Latvian State Radio and Television Centre) is equipping the border with smart technologies, which are planned to be fully implemented by next year, providing Latvia's eastern border with effective technological solutions, thereby strengthening the security of not only the borders of Latvia but also the European Union and NATO.
