To strengthen capacity, preparedness, and knowledge in the field of evacuation, the joint Latvian–Lithuanian civil protection project “MassMovement: From Strategy to Safety — A Joint LV–LT Effort for Mass Evacuation Preparedness and Public Resilience” (Project No. LL-00310, acronym MassMovement) was launched on 15 November 2025.
The objective of the project is to establish a harmonized and coordinated mass evacuation system in the Latvia–Lithuania border region by developing joint operational tools, aligning legal frameworks, and strengthening institutional cooperation between the two countries in crisis situations. An equally important component of the project is improving public awareness and preparedness, ensuring that citizens, municipalities, and emergency services are better prepared to respond in emergency situations.
Within the project, joint standard operating procedures, handbooks, and legal cooperation solutions will be developed. Several theoretical training sessions and joint cross-border evacuation exercises will be organized, during which all stages of evacuation will be practically tested – from decision-making to the cross-border movement and reception of evacuees. In addition, other activities will be implemented throughout the project. To increase public knowledge, awareness of evacuation procedures, and overall societal resilience, three large-scale public information campaigns will also be carried out.
The project is expected to strengthen the ability of Latvia and Lithuania to jointly respond to natural disasters, military threats, industrial accidents, migration crises, and other risks, thereby improving public safety and regional resilience. The project will lay the foundation for a modern, coordinated civil protection system based on strong institutional cooperation and active public engagement.
The project duration is 27 months. The lead partner is the State Fire and Rescue Service of Latvia, while the project partner is the Fire and Rescue Department under the Ministry of the Interior of Lithuania.
The project is co-financed by the European Union Interreg VI-A Latvia–Lithuania Programme 2021–2027. The implementation period is from 15 November 2025 to 14 February 2028 (27 months). The total project budget is EUR 3,070,186, including EUR 1,628,638 allocated to the State Fire and Rescue Service of Latvia, while the total European Regional Development Fund co-financing amounts to EUR 2,456,148.
This information has been prepared with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of the State Fire and Rescue Service of Latvia and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the European Union.