Procedures for Requesting International Assistance

Issued pursuant to
Section 24, Paragraph five
of the Civil Protection and Disaster Management Law

I. General Provisions

1. The Regulation prescribes the procedures by which State or local government authorities shall propose the Cabinet to take the decision to request international assistance in case of a disaster or threat of a disaster in order to ensure disaster management.

2. The Cabinet shall take the decision to request international assistance on the basis of a proposal from the Crisis Management Council and the information provided to the Crisis Management Council by the responsible State or local government authority.

II. Requesting of International Assistance

3. The responsible State or local government authority shall submit the following information to the secretariat of the Crisis Management Council:

3.1. the State or local government authority which proposes to request international assistance (the name and contact information);

3.2. a general description of the requested international assistance;

3.3. the type and extent of the requested international assistance (as detailed information as possible);

3.4. the expected duration of the provision of international assistance and the provisional costs;

3.5. the border crossing point of the international assistance provider (co-ordinates of the global positioning system);

3.6. the transport to be used (land (including railway), air, marine transport);

3.7. the place of arrival of the international assistance provider (final destination - the name and co-ordinates of the global positioning system);

3.8. whether the State will provide the international assistance provider with the following support:

3.8.1. food;

3.8.2. drinking water;

3.8.3. fuel;

3.8.4. accommodation;

3.8.5. inland transport;

3.8.6. medical support;

3.8.7. a liaison officer;

3.8.8. interpreters;

3.8.9. other types of support;

3.9. whether the State will exempt the international assistance provider from all customs duties, duties, tariffs, and payments without applying them to modules, units, equipment, including service dogs, and other consignments of the international assistance provider and will not impose any restrictions on exports and imports;

3.10. whether the State commits to the following in relation to the international assistance provider:

3.10.1. to issue visas, if necessary;

3.10.2. to recognise regulated professions (for example, medical practitioners, engineers, firefighters, rescuers);

3.10.3. if necessary or if the international assistance provider requests, to guarantee security and to provide the services related thereto;

3.11. other responsibilities related to the reception of an international assistance provider.

4. If, due to objective reasons, the information referred to in Sub-paragraphs 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 3.10, and 3.11 of this Regulation is not known, the State or local government authority which proposes to request international assistance shall inform the secretariat of the Crisis Management Council thereof.

5. The Cabinet shall, in the decision to request international assistance, appoint the responsible authority and co-authorities, determining the duties and rights thereof, as well as indicate the information referred to in Paragraph 3 of this Regulation.

6. The national contact point for civil protection shall ensure the circulation of information related to the receipt of international assistance with the European Union Emergency Response Coordination Centre and the Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, as well as other international cooperation organisations and foreign countries.

7. If necessary, the Cabinet shall instruct the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure the transmission of the request for international assistance to potential international assistance providers through diplomatic channels.

8. The responsible authority appointed by the Cabinet (hereinafter - the responsible authority) shall ensure communication with the international assistance provider, unless the Cabinet has decided otherwise.

III. Receipt of International Assistance

9. The responsible authority shall manage and coordinate the implementation of all measures related to the receipt of international assistance.

10. The responsible authority shall arrange the customs formalities of the international assistance provider, as well as ensure the submission of the necessary documents to the customs authority of the State Revenue Service.

11. The customs authority of the State Revenue Service shall ensure the extraordinary customs control of international assistance.

12. The State Revenue Service shall not apply import duties to goods imported or received within the framework of international assistance in accordance with the laws and regulations of the European Union.

13. The responsible authority, in cooperation with the co-authorities, shall, not later than 30 days after the end of the receipt of international assistance, draw up and submit to the Crisis Management Council for review an information report on the progress of receiving international assistance, including conclusions and proposals for future action.

Prime Minister Māris Kučinskis

Minister for the Interior Rihards Kozlovskis

Translation © 2019 Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre)