“Internal and external security is a priority for the government of Latvia, and the commitment to construct the fence on the eastern border of Latvia, which is also the external border of the European Union, will be implemented and completed next year,” emphasized Prime Minister Evika Siliņa during her regional visit to the eastern border of Latvia on Thursday 19 October.
The Prime Minister E. Siliņa expressed gratitude to the Latvian border guards for their work under severe operating conditions in response to the hybrid operation carried out by Belarus. Every day border guards have to prevent up to several hundred attempts to cross illegally the external border of Latvia and the EU.
“Internal and external security remains a priority for the government. Even now, when we are very close, there are people approaching the border in an attempt to enter illegally into our country. Firstly, we intend to complete the fence on the border with Belarus and the fence on the border with Russia by the end of next year. We have also resolved the legal obstacles to the implementation of these commitments. However, this is not end – the border also needs video systems and other types of elements to increase our border guarding capacity and efficiency. Let me thank all border guards for safeguarding our greatest holiness – the state of Latvia and its territory – every day and night," said the Prime Minister.
The “Declaration of the Intended Activities of the Cabinet of Ministers” states that the construction of the fence on the border with Belarus and Russia must be completed by the end of 2024.
SJSC “State Real Estate” informs that the construction of the fence on the Latvia-Belarus state border until 16 October was provided for 89.7 km or 80 % of the volume planned this year, in order to further complete the construction of the fence in sections along the public waters.
The entire eastern border fence with Russia and Belarus is due to be completed in 2024. Other elements of the border protective infrastructure will be further installed to ensure that a modern and efficient border protection infrastructure is in place on the entire eastern border.
The construction of the State external land border infrastructure in accordance with the Construction Law is organised and ensured by the SJSC “State Real Estate”, while the construction of technological infrastructure is ensured and automation solutions for border control are developed and implemented by the SJSC “Latvia State Radio and Television Centre”.
The construction of technological infrastructure includes the construction of power supply infrastructure, optical cable network infrastructure, data transmission infrastructure, installation of data processing equipment, construction of perimeter monitoring infrastructure – video surveillance, as well as installation of various sensors.
In order to strengthen the Latvian State Border Guard (SBG), additional EUR 4.5 million are provided in next year’s budget to increase the remuneration of SBG officials with service ranks. In addition, EUR 7 million will also be allocated next year to officials for every five years of continuous service, as well as the amount of reimbursement of health care expenses for officials is significantly increased from the next year.
