On 9 June 2023, the Ministry of Interior signed an agreement with the Information Centre of the Ministry of the Interior regarding the implementation of a project co-financed by the European Union entitled “Development of the maritime surveillance system – Round 2”, which provides for a significant strengthening of maritime border surveillance in Latvia.
Within the framework of the project, it is planned to install modern long-range video cameras along the Latvian maritime border by April 2024, as well as to upgrade equipment. Video cameras will operate in continuous mode and will be of high image quality and modern optics, which will provide the State Border Guard with the possibility of obtaining detailed images of the objects.
Mr. Dimitrijs Trofimovs, State Secretary of the Ministry of Interior: "Thanks to the European Union funds, we continue to increase the mobility and capacity of home affairs services, as well as find important and modern solutions to strengthen the surveillance of our national borders. As a result of the project, it is planned to significantly strengthen the capacity of the State Border Guard to perform surveillance of the sea border using a modern marine video surveillance system, regardless of the time and weather conditions, which will in turn significantly facilitate the work of State Border Guard operators involved in maritime border guarding, as cameras will also be equipped with intelligent functions. Modern and modern-equipped home affairs services and motivated and professional staff have always been a priority for the internal affairs sector, so I thank the Information Centre of the Ministry of the Interior and everyone involved in the implementation of this and other similar projects. "
In conformity with the Border Guard Law, one of the tasks of the State Border Guard is to observe land areas, waters and airspace adjacent to the State border. As regards the sea border, it is an area in the waters of the Gulf of Riga and the Baltic Sea up to 12 nautical miles (approximately 22 km) from the coast of the territory of the Republic of Latvia, which is part of the European Union's external borders throughout its length, and therefore the border surveillance of the Republic of Latvia is directly linked to the European Border Surveillance System (EUROSUR) and its activities.
In order to detect and prevent unauthorized crossing of the sea border, officials of the State Border Guard shall patrol the maritime border, carry out video surveillance and receive information from other State services. After receiving any type of information regarding movement in the internal waters of the Republic of Latvia, officials of the State Border Guard shall be able to determine whether such movement is unauthorized. It is therefore very important for the State Border Guard not only to notice any movement taking place in the territory under their responsibility, but also to be able to receive all possible amounts of information on people and water vehicles (for example, the number of people in water transport, the size and type of water transport).
The project is implemented within the framework of the Financial Support Instrument for Border Management and Visa Policy for the period 2021-2027. The total financing of the project is EUR 1 195 176, the European Union financing is EUR 896 382, while national funding is EUR 298 794.
