The fence along Latvia’s eastern border is under construction and will be no worse than the ones constructed by our neighbours, said Minister of the Interior Māris Kučinskis during debates in the Saeima about the state budget for 2023.
On Friday the Saeima viewed in the first reading the State Budget fir 2023 and content for the years 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Kučinskis stressed that the officials and contractors involved in the project understand the importance of the wall to improve Latvia’s defence.
Much of what was discussed in regards to Latvia falling behind Lithuania and Poland has already been resolved,
said the minister.
The amount planned to be allocated from the state budget towards border infrastructure this year is approximately EUR 24 million. Kučinskis says this is a significant investment hat will help promote the construction of a defensive system in Latvia. In the existing geopolitical situation Latvia cannot afford to fall behind its neighbours Lithuania and Estonia, as well as allies like Poland and Finland.
During debates the minister also mentioned the previous Saeima’s approved amendment to the Immigration Law. Kučinskis said the amendments that govern the stay of Russian citizens in Latvia were a mistake.
«The mistake is politicians’ surface level attitude towards this law’s mechanisms. After two months in the minister’s post,
it has become clear to me it is impossible to implement these new norms by the 1st of September.
The Office of Citizenship and Migration Affair does not have the resources to do it. The requirement to know Latvian language stays, of course. Without a document proving their Latvian language skills, it will not be possible to apply for residence permits,» said the minister.
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