It’s the 4^th period of the project LLI-523 “Capacity building of Saldus and Mažeikiai municipalities in the field of civil security” (MuniGuard) implementation. Project partners look at what is done so far and what tasks still to be done as the project is slowly coming to an end.

Investment activity was completed by Mažeikiai partner in the Spring of 2022. Four water intake sites were reconstructed on the Lithuanian side of the border. The water tanks were installed in Seda, Ukrinai and Buknaičiai, the access road for the fire trucks reconstructed in Židikai. The first 2 of planned 6 water intakes were built and put into operation in Saldus region parishes Pampāļi and Zaņa in the 1^st period. This measure will help to reduce time of reaction to fire accidents in the Lithuania-Latvia border region.

Lots of new equipment was purchased for public safety measures, carefully and purposely chosen by all partners to meet one of this project main goals – to enchase higher civil security in both municipalities. Panic alarm system and thermal video surveillance camera for Saldus Lake public beach has been purchased and installed by Saldus Municipality and already functioning since December 2020.  Saldus Technical school not only bought 4 sets of dry suits and protective underwear for lifeguards, but used their budget savings to purchase also trailer for the equipment transportation and chainsaw for trainings in rescue operations on ice. Mazeikiai municipality bought number of crucially necessary equipment items for their firefighting services – radio and communication equipment set, mobile water pump and hydraulic equipment set, and also replenished stocks of another inventory, i.e., additional mobile water pump, fire hoses, firefighting select flow hose nozzles and helmets with lighting. All items supplement already purchased equipment and will be used in saving operations.

Methodological guidelines for the trainings of municipality and public sector employees were prepared by Mažeikiai partner based on statistical analysis, expert advice and survey of potential participants.  Reviewed methodology is translated into Latvian, transferred to Latvian partner in Saldus.  Trainings already done in Mažeikiai Municipality, where a lot more people participated with a big interest. At the end of this Summer similar trainings will be organized for Saldus municipality and public sector employees.

Number of educational events – trainings for school children age 11-15 were also organized during the 3^rd and 4^th periods in Saldus and Mažeikiai as well. Children learned about security topic in an attractive and practical way. Trainings were led by practitioners – professional firefighters and lifeguards.

Project partners (Saldus Municipality, Saldus Technical school and Mažeikiai District Municipality Administration) were awarded financing of the European Union that was allocated by the Interreg V-A Latvia-Lithuania Programme 2014-2020 to the project LLI-523 “Capacity building of Saldus and Mažeikiai municipalities in the field of civil security” (MuniGuard). With the support of this project partners intend to ensure higher civil security for citizens through improved public services, preventive actions and reduced time of reaction to fire accidents and other emergencies in Saldus and Mažeikiai municipal territories.

Total project budget is 214 062,11 EUR. Co-funding of European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) is 181 952,78 EUR.

This article has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The contents of this article are the sole responsibility of Saldus Municipality (Lead partner) and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union.