To reorganise the national crisis management system, the Saeima on Thursday, 29 May, adopted amendments to several laws in the third and final reading. The amendments designate the government as the primary authority responsible for crisis management and the mitigation of threats, and provide for the establishment of a Crisis Management Centre.
At present, Latvia’s civil protection and disaster management system assigns responsibilities to a wide range of institutions. However, the current geopolitical context demands a more robust and streamlined crisis management framework. According to the authors of the draft law, the active involvement of both municipalities and society is an essential component of the system.
The draft legislation provides for the dissolution of the Crisis Management Council, with its functions to be transferred to the Cabinet of Ministers. Henceforth, the government will be responsible for managing crises, overcoming national threats, and addressing their consequences. This change will accelerate decision-making, as decisions in times of crisis or national emergency will be made directly by the Cabinet of Ministers. Until now, such decisions required approval from both the Crisis Management Council and the Cabinet.
The amendments clarify the responsibilities of the Cabinet of Ministers, define the functions of the Crisis Management Centre, specify the roles of municipalities, and determine the competencies of public organisations.
It is also envisaged that the Prime Minister will present an annual report to the Saeima covering not only national security but also crisis management.
In the event of a cross-sectoral crisis, the Crisis Management Centre will take the lead in coordinating the actions of multiple institutions. The Centre will intervene when a threat affects several sectors or the entire country, as was the case during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the case of a military crisis, the Centre will coordinate civil sector activities and ensure cooperation with the military sector. If national, public, environmental, economic, or public health and safety are significantly endangered, the Centre will have the authority to issue binding instructions to ministries, other state institutions, and municipalities, and to oversee their implementation, as stipulated in the amendments.
Local or regional civil crises—such as localised flooding or isolated forest fires—will remain under the supervision of municipalities and the responsible institutions. By next year, all municipalities will be required to establish a crisis management unit or appoint a designated official responsible for planning, preparing, and implementing crisis response measures.
The amendments to the National Security Law, the Law on the Structure of the Cabinet of Ministers, the Law on the State of Emergency and Exception, and the Civil Service Law will enter into force on 1 July this year.
Saeima Press Service
