President calls for defining security and development plan for Latgale Region

RIGA - Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics has called on the members of the Latgale sub-commission of the Saeima, together with the leadership of the Environmental Protection and Regional Development Ministry, the Education and Science Ministry, the Economics Ministry, the Transport Ministry and the Defense Ministry, to develop a clear and practicable plan for the development of both Latgale and the entire eastern border of Latvia.

LETA learned from presidential advisor Martins Dregeris on Wednesday that Rinkevics met with its members of Latgale sub-committee and Environmental Protection and Regional Development Minister Inga Berzina (New Unity) to discuss the action plan for the economic growth of Latvia's eastern border region from 2024 to 2026, developed by the Environmental Protection and Regional Development Ministry.

The President agreed with the members of the sub-committee on the need to review and improve the Action Plan for the Economic Growth of the Eastern Borderlands of Latvia from 2024 to 2026 before it is approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

According to the President, the plan should include actionable objectives and steps in the areas of regional security, school networks, road infrastructure and business promotion. Rinkevics stressed that this work must be done now, because the needs of the people living in Latgale cannot be postponed.

"Of course, the development of the Latgale region must be seen in the context of other regions of Latvia, but it must be understood that Latgale and some municipalities of Latvia are also the external border of the European Union and NATO. And now this circumstance imposes a much greater responsibility and degree of mobility, so that the residents of Latgale region feel safe and motivated to live in Latvia," said the President after the meeting.