Estonian and Latvian Interior Ministers discuss Schengen cross-border police cooperation

The main topic to be discussed by the ministers at the meeting will be how to organise the exchange of information between Estonian and Latvian law enforcement authorities in order to reinforce cooperation in the fight against cross-border crime in the Schengen zone. The ministers will also be discussing the state of preparations for joining the zone and their readiness for assessment. Evaluations will be carried out of Estonia's land borders, police cooperation and data protection in September.

At the beginning of June the Estonian and Latvian governments signed a cross-border police cooperation agreement which will see the two countries working together in the battle against the crimes covered by the European arrest warrant and member state transfer procedure. Estonia and Latvia will begin exchanging information and sharing their experiences and organising joint police operations. The agreement also gives law enforcement officers the right to track criminals in the other country on certain conditions - a right that currently does not exist.

Minister Laanet will be accompanied to Valka by Chief of Police Raivo Aeg, Southern Police Prefecture Police Prefect Aivar Otsalt and Ministry of the Interior Internal Security Analysis Department Director Marek Helm.