Today, 13 June, at the Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg, the Ministers of the Interior of the European Union (EU) Member States discussed the need to strengthen crisis preparedness and response at the EU level. During the discussion, Minister of the Interior Rihards Kozlovskis stressed that it is essential for Latvia to strengthen all-hazards crisis management at the EU level, including in the context of military and civil protection.
Taking into account the current and possible future threats, the European Council has pointed to the need to improve military and civilian preparedness, as well as strategic crisis management. Member States are invited to move forward in this area, while the European Commission (EC) is invited to develop proposals for further action to strengthen preparedness and crisis response. These proposals should cover all hazards and be based on a whole-of-society approach, taking into account the responsibilities and competences of the Member States. The EC proposals are expected to form the basis of a future preparedness strategy.
In turn, the President of the EC, Ursula von der Leyen, has asked the former President of Finland, Sauli Niinistő, to prepare a report on the EU crisis preparedness and response. The report aims to strengthen and coordinate the preparedness of military, civil protection and other crisis management actors by analyzing and taking into account the experiences and good practices of the Member States. The report should be ready in October this year.
R. Kozlovskis pointed out that more effective external and internal communication during crises should be promoted. The Minister also stressed that special attention should be paid to preparedness measures to strengthen external borders, internal security and civil protection, as well as the resilience of critical infrastructures. The Minister also informed his counterparts from the Member States that Latvia was continuing its work on the establishment of the Crisis Management Centre and the development of the crisis management system.
During the meeting, the ministers discussed the current situation in the Schengen area, the implementation of the Migration and Asylum Pact, and agreed on the extension of temporary protection for Ukrainian civilians in the EU until 4 March 2026. In this context, the Minister stressed that this is our duty, as the fight for our internal security is being fought on the battlefield in Ukraine.
It has already been reported that earlier this year the Cabinet of Ministers approved the establishment of the Crisis Management Centre (CMC), defining its competences, functions and tasks. The establishment of such a centre will in future ensure centralised and rapid decision-making, coordinating the work of the state and local authorities involved and ensuring public information.
Ministry of the Interior
Communication Department