A Finnish support group to Latvia

The Latvian Border Guard requested border surveillance support from Finland. Based on this request, the Finnish Border Guard sent a small support group to Latvia two weeks ago. This group has now been extended up to ten persons.

The support group consists of border control patrols, which carry out similar border security duties in Latvia as they do in Finland. Support will be provided until 14 June 2026. The request for support is based on the cooperation agreement between the Finnish and the Latvian Border Guards, as well as on the Prüm decision. Short-term Prüm support is provided, for instance, to support another member state in different disturbances, such as the current situation on the Latvian border, where the numbers concerning irregular migration have increased towards the summer.

The Finnish Border Guard constantly has officials in Europe also via the European Border and Coast Guard Agency Frontex. These assignments support the border security in the target state. 

These assignments improve the professional competence of the Finnish Border Guard’s personnel, as well as increase their perspective of the European border security situation and of its development in different countries. Finland also receives support via Frontex. 

Frontex officials are continuously posted in Finland to support the Finnish Border Guard in border security duties.