The European Commission is backing Latvia with an additional 17 million euros to improve monitoring of the EU's eastern border

The European Commission has allocated €170 million to six EU member states to strengthen external border surveillance. Latvia will receive €17 million of this funding, which will be used to build smart infrastructure along a 52.9 km stretch of the Latvian-Russian border. This infrastructure will significantly improve the work of the State Border Guard and make the external border more secure.

Minister of the Interior Rihards Kozlovskis stated that this decision demonstrates solidarity among EU member states and highlights the hostile hybrid attacks carried out by the Russian and Belarusian regimes aimed at destabilizing the EU.

In total, the European Commission has also allocated funding to Estonia (€19.4 million), Finland (€50 million), Lithuania (€15.4 million), Poland (€52 million), and Norway (€16.4 million).

By securing additional EU funding, Latvia will increase its control and response capabilities in border areas, strengthen its joint capacity to prevent, combat, and detect cross-border crime, and improve the safety and quality of life for its citizens.

The additional funding has been allocated within the framework of the European Union's Financial Instrument for Border Management and Visa Policy for the 2021-2027 planning period.

The construction of the smart infrastructure is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2026, making our borders even more secure and efficient.

More information (in Latvian): https://www.iem.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/kozlovskis-ek-pieskirtos-17-miljonus-investesim-viedas-infrastrukturas-izbuvei-uz-latvijas-krievijas-robezas.