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On Thursday, 22 March, the Saeima in the second and final reading adopted a draft law on the ratification of the Agreement between the governments of the three Baltic States On Mutual Assistance and Cooperation in the Field of Disaster Prevention, Preparedness and Response aimed at protecting people, the environment and property, including cultural heritage.

According to the authors of the draft law from the Ministry of the Interior, the tripartite legal framework will ensure more effective cooperation among the Baltic States; it introduces simplified fast-track procedures for the movement of rescue teams and individual experts, as well as delivery of rescue equipment to the disaster location within the Baltics.

The new Agreement will substitute the current bilateral agreements on cooperation in preventing emergencies and providing relief.

According to the Agreement, in case of a disaster or imminent threat thereof, mutual assistance is provided in the form of sending out rescue teams, equipment and materials, as well as in the form of exchange of information and experience. The Agreement also covers procedures for requesting, organising, managing, controlling, coordinating and supervising mutual assistance, as well as the support provided by the transit country.

However, the Agreement, does not cover natural disasters and large-scale emergencies occurring in the territorial waters of the Baltic States.

The Agreement was signed on 23 November 2017, and now needs to be ratified by the parliaments of all three Baltic States.

Saeima Press Service