Krauze and European Commissioner Hansen to visit Latgale on Friday

RIGA - Agriculture Minister Armands Krauze (Greens/Farmers) and European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Christophe Hansen will on Friday, April 18, visit Latgale to meet with farmers and food producers' non-governmental organizations and visit several farms, the Agriculture Ministry informed LETA.

The minister and the commissioner will visit dairy farm Upenes in Svente and grain farm Pumpuri in Dricani County, Rezekne Region.

Krauze points out that the purpose of the visit is to inform the commissioner about the situation on the EU's external border with Russia, as well as to explain to the European Commission why additional funding is needed for rural areas close to the EU's external border.

"The socioeconomic decline and population drain did not start the day Russia invaded Ukraine. The border regions of Latvia and the Baltic countries have been facing Russia's constant threat for years," said Krauze. These regions, which are of strategic importance for the EU's security, need special attention and support to ensure economic activity and prevent population decline.

The situation will not improve right away if a ceasefire is agreed, as the aggressor would still be just across the Latvian and EU border with Russia.

According to the ministry, Hansen will visit Lithuania on Thursday, April 17, and Estonia on Saturday, April 19.