In the conference "Where are you going, borderland? A Vision for the Development of Eastern Border Regions until 2040," organized by the Saeima Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee's Latgale Subcommittee, a special role was dedicated to the country's internal and external security.
Dimitrijs Trofimovs, State Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior, addressing the audience, emphasized that the development of the eastern border region is of great importance to the contribution and mutual cooperation of all sectors.
"It is particularly important to strengthen cooperation between state institutions, municipalities, and the non-governmental sector to ensure more effective action in crisis situations and the resilience of society in the face of various potential threats. It is just as important to use the experience of other countries, for example, the Nordic countries, in matters of security and civil protection, as the situation and challenges of Latvia are best understood by those European Union countries that share a common border with aggressor states," said D. Trofimovs.
J. Bekmanis, Deputy State Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior, informed the attendees about the work done in the internal affairs sector to strengthen the border region, highlighting the significant role of the internal affairs sector in the security of the eastern border.
This includes:
Construction of disaster management centers (DMCs), which strengthen the region's infrastructure and provide quality services to the public and modern working conditions for employees of the operational services (DMCs in Dagda, Ilūkste, and Līvāni have already been handed over to users this year from April to June);
Civil protection issues, including the development of shelters—officials from the Latgale Regional Administration of the State Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) in cooperation with municipal representatives in the Latgale region have designated a total of 201 objects that "Comply" or "Partially Comply" with shelter needs;
Construction of the external land border infrastructure (including technological infrastructure) of Latvia-Russia and Latvia-Belarus, and the creation of a smart border;
Development of human resources and education in the internal affairs sector in the eastern border area—active work is underway to attract professionals, thanks to the activities of the State Border Guard College, the State Border Guard, the State Police College, the State Police, the College of Fire Safety and Civil Protection, the State Fire and Rescue Service, and the Internal Security Academy;
In the future, the internal affairs sector also plans active communication to inform the public, find potential employees, implement infrastructure development projects, and strengthen the response capabilities of the services in the eastern border area;
The modernization of the state's early warning system and the installation of new systems are planned, as well as other measures and activities in the fields of civil protection, internal order, and state security;
To provide support to municipalities, the Ministry of the Interior has already developed "Guidelines for Municipalities to Improve Public Participation in the Civil Protection System."
By strengthening the eastern border region, we are building a stronger internal affairs sector and Latvia as a whole.
These important measures across Latvia's eastern border can be implemented thanks to a strong synergy between European Union funds and national budget resources. It is this joint funding and cooperation that allows us to actively strengthen both border security and develop the overall civil protection system, which is vitally important for our society's resilience and security.
With the support of the European Union, Latvia becomes stronger, safer, and better prepared for future challenges. This cooperation is a testament to the solidarity and foresight of the European Union, which gives us the strength and resources to protect our borders and our people.
Photo: Reinis Inkēns, Saeima
Photo: Ieva Ābele, Saeima
