On April 7, 2026, the first coordination group meeting for the project “Strengthening the Capacity in Civil Protection in the Border Regions through Local Leaders” (acronym Stay Safe) was held in Rēzekne, at the Embassy of Latgale GORS. The event brought together experts from civil protection, healthcare, and rescue services to begin developing a joint strategy for improving security in the Latvian-Lithuanian border area.
During the meeting, the project’s lead partner – Latgale Planning Region – along with partners from the Panevėžys District Municipality Administration, introduced the goals and planned activities of the Stay Safe project (No. LL-00289). Given the geopolitical challenges of recent years, including hybrid threats and the migration crisis, civil protection has become a priority for municipalities on both sides of the border.To develop the strategy and action plan, Latgale Planning Region has entered into a contract with Riga Technical University. The project’s designated expert, Justīna Hudenko, had conducted a survey of institutions prior to the meeting and presented initial data regarding the knowledge requirements of local communities and municipalities in the field of civil protection.
Representatives from the following institutions participated in the meeting and began discussions on integrating four key pillars into a unified action plan:
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Military/border threats;
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Natural disasters;
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First aid;
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Cyber threats.
Attendees included specialists from the State Fire and Rescue Service, National Armed Forces, State Border Guard, State Emergency Medical Service, as well as local government leaders and civil protection specialists.
The meeting also addressed training opportunities for local community representatives, who will serve as “lighthouses” to inform and lead residents during crisis situations. Training is scheduled to begin following the completion of the cross-border strategy, once partners and involved organizations in Latvia and Lithuania agree on common themes. Iveta Maļina-Tabūne, Head of the Latgale Planning Region Administration, emphasized that the essence of this project is practical readiness:
“Everyone involved must clearly know how to act in a crisis situation to reduce uncertainty and strengthen the resilience of the population”.
The second coordination group meeting is scheduled to take place on May 22, 2026, in Panevėžys.
