On Tuesday, 15 September, the heads of Estonian municipalities and crisis management specialists visited Riga City Council to get acquainted with the experience of the capital of Latvia in civil protection, crisis management and citizen safety issues.
During the visit, the Estonian delegation met with representatives of Riga municipality, who presented the civil protection system of the municipality, the duties and cooperation of the responsible institutions, as well as the actions of the municipality in cases of various threats and emergency situations. The delegation also visited the shelter under the Town Hall, which the Civil Protection Board equipped with the necessary equipment - folding beds, generator, communication systems, etc.
“We face very similar challenges with Estonia in security matters, so it is particularly important not only to share theoretical information, but also to share practical experiences – which are already working, where we have encountered problems and which we can take over from each other. The crises do not know the borders of municipalities or states, so cooperation between the Baltic States in the field of civil protection is essential for our common resilience and the security of our citizens," emphasizes Edvards Ratnieks, Vice-Mayor of Riga responsible for security.
The visit of representatives of Estonian municipalities to Latvia takes place from 14 to 16 September. During the meeting, the delegation also met with representatives of the State Fire and Rescue Service and the Crisis Management Centre, getting acquainted with the Latvian civil protection system, preparedness for air hazard situations, early warning systems, including cell broadcasting and alarm sirens, as well as issues related to the provision of shelters.
The aim of the visits is to strengthen cooperation between local governments and crisis management specialists in Latvia and Estonia, to promote the exchange of experience and mutual uptake of practical solutions to strengthen civil protection and the resilience of society.
The second visit of the heads of Estonian municipalities and crisis management specialists to Latvia is scheduled from 12 to 14 October, including a visit to the Riga City Council on 13 October.
The information was prepared by: Mārtiņš Vilemsons, Project Coordinator of the External Communication Department of Riga Municipality, e-mail: martins.vilemsons@riga.lv.
