On the final day of 2025, it is worth taking a moment to reflect on our achievements and gather our thoughts for the next chapter. This year has been dynamic yet highly productive for the home affairs sector. We have accomplished a great deal:
Full completion of the physical fence construction on the external Eastern border;
Implementation of cell broadcast in Latvia, now fully operational as a new tool within the early warning system;
Refinement of Latvia's migration policy: proposals for improving the residency regulations for third-country nationals have been developed and government-approved, alongside a new entry procedure for third-country nationals;
Ongoing development of the shelter network: 22.2 million euros in EU funding has been secured to adapt 570 shelters across all Latvian municipalities;
New uniforms for State Border Guard personnel;
Enhanced response capabilities regarding the detection of unauthorized unmanned aerial vehicles (drones);
Border protection: over 12,000 illegal entry attempts into Latvia were prevented, and 85 human smugglers were apprehended;
Strengthening of the civil protection system: improved crisis readiness among the public, local governments, and NGOs;
Electronic monitoring successfully introduced into practical operation;
Infrastructure modernization: 12 new Disaster Management Centres opened and handed over to the services (in Alsunga, Salacgrīva, Viļāni, Liepāja, Daugavpils, Līvāni, Madona, Ilūkste, Aizpute, Kandava, Saulkrasti, and Rūjiena);
Improved accessibility: two new State Police stations opened in Riga (Mūkusala Street and Ernests Birznieks-Upītis Street);
Technical equipment: the State Fire and Rescue Service fleet has been fully renewed and equipped;
Guaranteed security at major events: public order was ensured during both the XIII Latvian Youth Song and Dance Festival and the EuroBasket 2025 finals in Riga.
These ambitious achievements would not be possible without the support of our strategic partners. We extend our special gratitude to the European Union, whose support has been an invaluable driving force in implementing many of our priorities. Thanks to EU funds investments and a shared unity of vision, we have been able not only to modernize infrastructure and strengthen the operational capabilities of our services but also to integrate innovative security solutions that make Latvia a safer place for every resident. This solidarity confirms that Latvia's internal security is an integral and essential part of the stability of the common European space.
