On Tuesday, the 14th of January, the Latvian government approved the new action plan for Economic Growth of the Eastern Border of Latvia and Strengthening of Security for 2025 – 2027. The plan includes spending more than EUR 640 million on various activities.
The plan mentions the most important challenges that need to be addressed on the eastern border under the influence of the war waged by Russia against Ukraine, and they are shared with other border states of Russia and Belarus in the European Union. This includes exacerbating the already unfavourable economic situation, making it difficult to maintain business activity for small and medium-sized enterprises.
The negative impact on the sense of security of the population and increased social tensions, hence the need to strengthen the resilience and preparedness of society, are mentioned as a challenge.
Also mentioned is the negative impact on potential investments, disruption of transport corridors, and interruption of tourist flow.
The measures included in the plan are aimed at strengthening security, economic development and the development of human resources.
The plan includes 59 measures and activities that complement existing measures and interventions included in other national planning documents for which funding has been allocated. Of these, the total funding allocated to 58 measures is EUR 644 598 937.
In the field of strengthening security, the implementation of infrastructure development projects and strengthening of the response capacity of services is planned by constructing 11 new disaster management centres along to the territory of the eastern border area – Dagda, Ilūkste, Daugavpils, Livani, Viļāni, Aluksne, Preiļi, Balvi, Krāslava, Ludza and Rēzekne.
Currently, funding is available for the construction of seven disaster management centres in Dagda, Ilūkste, Daugavpils, Livani, Viļāni, Aluksne, Preiļi, but during the implementation period of the plan, the construction of 11 disaster management centres is planned.
It is planned to implement the anti-mobility plan of the eastern border of Latvia by creating anti-mobility material parks in 25 places and providing more than 100 jobs for local residents.
The plan provides for the operation of six military bases – in Daugavpils, Rēzekne, Lūznava, Preiļi, Meža Mackeviči, Aluksne – and the deployment of 550 National Defence Service soldiers in the Latgale region.
In the eastern border area, it is intended to ensure the production of dual-use products by strengthening the region’s crisis preparedness and deterrence capabilities, as well as business opportunities.
Measures will be implemented to strengthen the information space, crisis management and strengthen the sector of non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
It is planned to promote the issue of strengthening the eastern border as a security issue of the entire European Union (EU) and to attract funding specifically for the countries and regions of the eastern border of the EU bordering Russia and Belarus within the framework of the European Union’s multi-annual budget after 2027.
The plan also includes supportive measures to promote economic development in the region.
It is planned to create 1 800 new jobs as a result of the implemented business support measures, direct investments to the creation of an industrial park in Daugavpils, as well as in other municipalities of the eastern border area by developing infrastructure and territories to support entrepreneurship, attracting EUR 56.9 million of private investments.
Support is planned to be provided to 34 small and medium-sized businesses.
It is also planned to provide loans, providing financing to entrepreneurs in the amount of EUR 36.5 million.
The competitiveness of farms, the development of small farms, the establishment of young farmers with support for more than 10 000 farms will be promoted.
It is planned to provide support for improving energy efficiency in business, including the transition to the use of renewable energy technologies in the heating industry.
For the construction of housing with rental subsidies, it is planned to introduce a model of public private partnership. The renovation of 143 social housing or the construction of new social housing is planned.
It is also planned to provide investments for improving the energy efficiency of apartment buildings, as well as municipal buildings and the transition to the use of renewable energy technologies.
Investments to promote mobility are also planned, including the improvement of the national regional and local road network.
According to the plan, 18 zero-emission vehicles will be purchased for municipalities, the development of smart municipalities will be promoted, support for the development of non-agricultural businesses will be provided, as well as investments will be made in the development of the “last mile” infrastructure of broadband networks. This will give 1 657 households, businesses, educational institutions, medical institutions and other public buildings access to broadband connections with a very high capacity network.
In the field of human resource development, it is intended to strengthen the synergies between the needs of entrepreneurs and the offer of higher education and science.
The integration of Rezekne Academy of Technology into the ecosystem of Riga Technical University is planned, providing four new study programmes and grants for doctoral and post-doctoral students.
With the activities of Daugavpils University, it is intended to ensure a competitive higher education in the region, strengthening the capacity of science with an impact on economic transformation, attracting and retaining academic staff.
It is intended to reduce obstacles to the acquisition of general education content by ensuring the availability of portable computer equipment for students from socially vulnerable groups and ensuring the availability of data transmission for the use of digital technologies in the learning process.
The plan includes training at least 200 young people at the first level of the Military Basic Course, strengthening the work of the hospital’s emergency medicine and patient admissions department, with the creation of an additional 34 nursing support person jobs.
It is planned to ensure the participation of the Ministry of Health in LLC “Daugavpils Regional Hospital”, which will promote equally accessible and high-quality health care services for residents of Latgale region.
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Publish date : 2025-01-14 23:35:00
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The post Latvian government approves new border reinforcement plan worth more than EUR 640 million first appeared on Love Europe.
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Publish date : 2025-01-15 10:06:00
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