The Ministry of Climate and Energy (KEM) has withdrawn the project of a decree submitted for approval on Wednesday, August 26, which proposed the introduction of a state of emergency in the areas of health care, energy supply, and water management in the eastern border region of Latvia. This is evidenced by information on the Regulatory Acts Project Portal (TAP). KEM representatives stated that, considering the discussions that have arisen in the public space and, in the ministry's opinion, certain inaccurate interpretations of the essence and purpose of the document, it is currently no longer available to the public on the TAP portal. To reduce further risks associated with communication and various interpretations of the document, the ministry also plans to clarify its title. At the same time, the information provided by KEM does not indicate that the ministry has abandoned the initiative itself or has definitively ceased work on the project of the decree. The ministry continues to work on a temporary legal solution. The next step will be to develop permanent regulations that will define the procedure for providing critically important services in the event of a threat in the airspace in the long term. KEM also indicates that it has initiated the development of a corresponding Cabinet of Ministers decree project based on the government's directive to all ministries. According to it, ministries are to submit proposals to the Ministry of Justice by September 30 of this year regarding the necessary legal regulations in their areas to ensure continuity of operations in the event of a threat to airspace. At the same time, ministries must clearly define the goal or existing problem, propose a conceptual solution to achieve the goal or eliminate the problem, and justify why the necessary mechanisms cannot be provided within the framework of existing regulatory acts governing the relevant sector. As previously reported, KEM prepared and submitted for approval a draft decree proposing the introduction of a state of emergency in the areas of health care, energy supply, and water management in the eastern border region of Latvia by December 1 of this year. The necessity for such a decision was justified by the threat of escalation of military actions by Russia and the need to prevent possible consequences of threats in the airspace. The state of emergency was proposed to be introduced in the Alūksne, Augšdaugava, Balvi, Daugavpils, Krāslava, Līvbērze, Ludza, Preiļi, and Rēzekne municipalities, as well as in Daugavpils and Rēzekne. KEM explained that unmanned aerial vehicles and other unidentified objects are increasingly being detected in the airspace of Latvia or near the state border, which could potentially pose a threat to public safety, human health, and the operation of critical infrastructure. The draft decree provided for temporary exceptions to the rules governing working hours and overtime, additional remuneration, and worker protection measures. This was intended to ensure the continuous provision of critically important services in the face of threats to airspace. The Minister of Climate and Energy explained on Thursday that the prepared draft decree on the state of emergency in the border areas of Latvia is not a signal of an impending invasion. According to him, it is a preventive measure in case it becomes necessary to ensure the continuity of critically important services in the event of a threat from the air. KEM also emphasized that the draft decree "On the Declaration of a State of Emergency in the Eastern Border Region of Latvia" did not actually provide for the immediate introduction of a state of emergency, but was intended to define the procedure for actions **in the event of its declaration**. Thus, the document that sparked widespread discussion has been withdrawn from approval and has disappeared from the TAP portal; however, work on the mechanism itself continues. KEM intends to change the wording and title of the document and then develop permanent rules that will ensure the operation of hospitals, energy supply, water supply, and other critical infrastructure in the face of threats from the air.
