Eastern lawmakers tour frontier in the east
In a bid to bolster its national security, Latvia is moving forward with plans to reinforce its borders. The Ministry of Defence has highlighted the importance of having platforms available for the National Armed Forces in case of a crisis, and a new law is soon to be on the agenda of the Saeima to speed up this work.
The proposed law, yet to be officially confirmed, would allow the National Armed Forces to begin work even if the expropriation process has not yet been completed. According to reports, up to 2,000 hectares of land will need to be expropriated, affecting approximately 600 private landowners, mainly in six identified municipalities: Smiltene, Alūksne, Balvi, Augšdaugava, Krāslava, and Ludza.
The need for a new law on the creation of anti-mobility infrastructure was highlighted a month ago by Defence Minister Andris Sprūds. This infrastructure includes barriers surrounding border guard stations and anti-mobility barriers yet to be installed in specific areas, which the Ministry of Defence has not yet named.
Liena Gātere, Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, has clarified that only specific points, territories, and locations will be expropriated, not the entire 30-kilometer border area. This is similar to the construction of the border fence, where land was expropriated for the installation of barriers.
In addition to the proposed land expropriation, new sensors and cameras are being installed on the border itself. These measures are part of Latvia's ongoing efforts to strengthen its border security in response to geopolitical concerns.
Recently, MPs from national defense and security committees toured Latvia's eastern border for two days. Raimonds Bergmanis, chair of the Defence, Internal Affairs and Corruption Prevention Committee, stated that discussions with those implementing the measures have been valuable.
It is worth noting that later this week, the Saeima is scheduled to consider a law introducing electronic registration queues at border control points. This move is separate from the proposed border reinforcement measures but is also part of Latvia's broader strategy to enhance its border security.
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, I recommend checking official Latvian government sources, such as the Ministry of Defence or the Ministry of Justice, or consulting local news outlets that cover legislative developments.
- The Saeima is set to discuss a new law that would expedite the reinforcement of Latvia's borders, featuring the construction of anti-mobility infrastructure, such as barriers surrounding border guard stations.
- The proposed law, yet to be confirmed, would permit the National Armed Forces to commence work even if the expropriation process is not yet finalized, affecting approximately 600 private landowners in six identified municipalities.
- LSM (local media) reported that Liena Gātere, Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, clarified that only specific points, territories, and locations will be expropriated, not the entire 30-kilometer border area.
- In addition to the border reinforcement measures, the EU is supporting Latvia by providing funds for the installation of new sensors and cameras along the border, aimed at strengthening border security in response to geopolitical concerns.
