On 2 December 2022, in Riga, during the closing of the 2014-2020 programming period of the European Union's (EU) Home Affairs Fund and the opening of the programming period for 2021-2027, “The European Union's contribution to your security!”, the management of the Ministry of the Interior and of the home affairs sector, as well as internal affairs experts, discussed progress and planned in strengthening the country's external and internal security, thanks to EU funds. It should be noted that in 2021-2027 EU Home Affairs Funds funding has increased significantly in order to further strengthen the security, asylum system and border surveillance of Latvia and the EU in a smart and systematic way.
Similarly, in the ongoing discussions, the “Home Affairs Service – a prestigious future job” and “Dispute Migration as a modern challenge” experts, including the management of the home affairs sector and the Ministry of Interior, agreed that the funding of EU funds is a major deterrent in overcoming geopolitical challenges, as well as in arranging and upgrading the infrastructure of home affairs services.
Mr. Dimitrijs Trofimovs, State Secretary at the Ministry of Interior: “Thanks to EU funds, we have built up mobility for home affairs services, increased their capacity in the air, water and land. We have contributed to the fight against all types of crime, particularly economic crime. Our services have also strengthened cooperation in the fight against cybercrime. Let us continue by improving the various information systems, processes related to migration, strengthening the border and other solutions relevant to the security of every citizen of Latvia and the EU. Thank you to the team of the Ministry of Interior and all the partners for their ability to carry out significant projects to strengthen the internal and external security of Latvia and the EU as a whole in the coming years".
Ms. Zane Petre, Head of Mission of the European Commission in Latvia: “In recent years we have faced a series of events that have made everyone think more about security - the migration crisis in 2015, the pandemic, hybrid attacks and the war in Ukraine. These challenges have not been easy, either individually, for each of us as a European, or in the context of the work of the national authorities. Many of them have still not been overcome, but it is clear that despite the challenges, the Ministry of the Interior and the institutions subordinate to it continue to take care of security and justice in Latvia tirelessly. It should be said that successful implementation of projects always depends on people who implement them, who can see and understand what needs to be done better or otherwise. In view of what has already been done, and also the plans that will be implemented by the Ministry of Interior in the near future, we can be sure that employees of both the Ministry and the subordinate institutions are standing in a continuous watch on our security and the security of Europe as a whole".
Ms. Beate Gmindere, Vice-Director-General of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, addressed attendees in a distant speech.
People present in the event had a unique opportunity to look at the detection systems of the presence of the State Border Guard, night observation devices, thermal cameras, video recorders and unmanned aircraft, as well as to familiarize themselves with the work of the State Border Guard College cinema windows and service dogs, including in the search of narcotic substances and explosives.
The State Fire and Rescue Service demonstrated the use of special equipment purchased in EU projects, described the setting up of a physical training site for the Fire and Civil Protection College and will present other major development projects.
The Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs demonstrated video materials on asylum procedures and accommodation of asylum seekers at the Centre of Asylum, materials regarding e-tools for self-examination of naturalization and requesting residence permits.
The presence of the State Police Forensic department was more familiar with the day-to-day and specific nature of the expert work, as well as a number of devices that provided substantial support for expert work, a video endoscopy apparatus, portable X-ray device and spectrometer.
The event also rewarded the authors of the best works, where children were invited to visualize what the word “safety” means to them, how safe they feel in the environment they think about security in their country, Europe and the world. The Ministry of Interior says a great deal of thanks to children, their parents and teachers for their interest and for the beautiful jobs they have sent in. The event was also open to an exhibition of children's works.
Together, the event brought together experts, researchers and industry specialists from both the State institutions and the non-governmental sector, as well as training institutions, including in discussions: Ministry of Interior State Secretary Mr. Dimitrijs Trofimovs and other representatives of the Ministry of Interior, Head of the European Commission's Mission to Latvia Ms. Zane Petre, Head of State Police Mr. Armands Ruks, Chief of State Border Guard Mr. Guntis Pujāts, Deputy Chief of State Border Guard Mr. Juris Martukāns, Deputy Chief of State Fire and Rescue Service Mr. Mārtiņš Baltmanis, Head of Citizenship and Migration Affairs Office Ms. Maira Roze, as well as Chairman of the Board of the Latvian Interior Workers' Union Mr. Armands Augustāns, International Bureau of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, head of the Office of the Mission of the Organization for Migration (IOM) in the Republic of Latvia Mr. Ilmārs Mežs, Director of “Providus” and lead researcher Ms. Iveta Kažoka.
The live recording of the event will be available on the website of the Ministry of Interior and on the Facebook page. Photo from the event in https://bit.ly/3XRZh67.
