Minister of Agriculture Armands Krauze and EU Agriculture and Food Commissioner Christophe Hansen to meet with farmers and food producers in Latgale on Friday

On Friday, April 18^th, Minister of Agriculture Armands Krauze, together with EU Agriculture and Food Commissioner Christophe Hansen, will visit Latgale to meet with non-governmental organizations (NGO) of Latvian farmers and food producers, as well as visit several farms.

Minister of Agriculture Armands Krauze: "The purpose of this visit is to introduce Commissioner Christophe Hansen to the situation at the EU's external border with the aggressor state, as well as to explain and justify to the European Commission the need for additional funding regarding rural regions at the EU's external border. The socio-economic decline and depopulation did not begin on the day Russia invaded Ukraine. Border regions in Latvia and the Baltic States have been living under constant threats from Russia for years. These regions, which are strategically important for EU security, require special attention and support to ensure economic activity and prevent further population decline. Moreover, we are well aware that the situation will not immediately improve after a potential ceasefire-the aggressor will still be right Latvia's and the EU's border."

EU Agriculture and Food Commissioner Christophe Hansen and Minister of Agriculture Armands Krauze will meet with Latvian farmers' and food producers' NGOs in Daugavpils on April 18.

After the meeting with the NGOs, the Commissioner and Minister will visit two rural production sites: the dairy farm "Upenes" in Svente and the grain and vegetable farm "Pumpuri" in Dricāni parish, Rēzekne municipality.

This weekend, EU Agriculture and Food Commissioner Christophe Hansen is on a work visit to the Baltic States. On Thursday, the Commissioner will visit Lithuania, on Friday - Latvia, and on Saturday - Estonia.