On 9 June this year, the Ministry of the Interior signed an agreement with the Information
Centre of the Ministry of the Interior on the implementation of the European Union co-financed
project “Improvement of the Maritime Video Surveillance System – 2nd Phase”, which aims to
significantly strengthen maritime border surveillance in Latvia.
The project will include the installation of modern long-range video surveillance cameras
along the Latvian maritime border by April 2024, as well as the modernization of equipment.
The CCTV cameras will operate in continuous mode and will have high image quality and
modern optics, which will enable the State Border Guard to obtain detailed images of objects.
Dimitrijs Trofimovs, State Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior: Thanks to the
European Union funds, we continue to increase the mobility and capacity of the internal affairs
services and find significant and modern solutions to strengthen the surveillance of the borders of
our country. The project will significantly strengthen the capacity of the State Border Guard to
conduct maritime border surveillance using a modern maritime video surveillance system,
regardless of the time of day and weather conditions, which in turn will significantly facilitate
the work of State Border Guard operators involved in maritime border surveillance, as the
cameras will also be equipped with intelligent functions. Modern and up-to-date equipped
internal affairs services and motivated and professional staff have always been a priority for the
internal affairs sector, so I would like to thank the Information Centre of the Ministry of the
Interior and all the partners involved in the implementation of this and other similar projects.”
According to the Border Guard Law, one of the tasks of the State Border Guard is to
monitor the land areas, waters and airspace adjacent to the State border. As regards the maritime
border, this is the 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, the entire length
of which is included in the external border of the European Union, therefore the surveillance of
the borders of the Republic of Latvia is also directly related to the European Border Surveillance
System (EUROSUR) and its operation.
In order to detect and prevent unauthorized crossing of the maritime border, State Border
Guard officials patrol the maritime border, conduct video surveillance and receive information
from other state services. Upon receipt of any information on movement in the internal waters of
the Republic of Latvia, State Border Guard officials shall be able to determine whether such movement is unauthorized. It is therefore very important for the State Border Guard not only to
spot any movement taking place in the territory under their responsibility, but also to be able to
obtain all possible information on people and water vehicles (e.g. the number of people on board,
the size and type of water vehicles).
The project is implemented under the Financial Instrument for Border Management and
Visa Policy for the period 2021-2027. The total funding for the project is 1 195 176 euros, with
the European Union funding - 896 382 euros and the State funding - 298 794 euros.
Prepared by:
Ministry of the Interior
Communications Division in cooperation with the Foreign Investment Development and Monitoring Department
and
the Information Centre of the Ministry of the Interior
Contacts:
Information Centre of the Ministry of the Interior
Project and Development Management Division
Project Coordinator
Daina Vende
Tālr./Phone: +371 67208425
E-pasts/E-mail: daina.vende@ic.iem.gov.lv