Within the framework of the visit, from 3 September to 4 September of this year, European Border and Coast Guard’s (Frontex) Liaison Officer for the Baltic States, Paul Voss, visited the structural units of the State Border Guard of Latvia Ludza Board and Viļaka Board, where he got familiarized with the Boards’ organization of services, specifics of activities, geographical location, border characteristics and risk analysis.
In Latvia the Frontex Liaison Officer Office was established in 2019 on the basis of the Memorandum of Understanding signed on 27 March 2019 between the State Border Guard of Latvia and Frontex regarding the hosting of a Frontex Liaison Officer in the Republic of Latvia. The main task of the Frontex Liaison Officer is to promote cooperation and dialogue between Frontex and the Baltic States authorities responsible for border management, return and coast guard functions within the framework of border control. The Frontex Liaison Officer for the Baltic States, Paul Voss, began his duties in January 2025, replacing the previous Frontex Liaison Officer in Latvia, who had been in his position for 5 years.
During the visit, the importance of close operational cooperation and the support provided by Frontex (human resources, technical means, technical equipment) was highlighted, discussions were held on issues of cooperation with the State Border Guard of Latvia, taking into account the high migratory and security risks at the European Union’s external land borders with the Russian Federation and Belarus. During the visit Paul Voss also participated in a patrol.
The Frontex Liaison Officer for the Baltic States highly appreciated the contribution made by the State Border Guard of Latvia to the protection of Europe’s external border.