On 17 September 2024, the closing event and the last Joint meeting of the Cooperation Committee and the Project Monitoring Board of the European Economic Area (EEA) Financial Mechanism 2014-2021 for the Programme “International Police Cooperation and Combating Crime” took place in Riga. Representatives from the Latvian Ministries of Interior and Welfare, the State Police, the EEA Financial Mechanism Office, and the Council of Europe attended the meeting which presented   the achievements and remaining bi-lateral activities of different projects under the Programme.

One of the projects of the Programme, “Support the Barnahus implementation in Latvia” has been highly successful, under the lead of the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Welfare. Barnahus opened in Riga in October 2023 in the Children’s Hospital, and state funding has been secured for the next years and also to open two more Barnahus/satellite centres to ensure geographical reach of the services across Latvia. This is key in ensuring the sustainability of the services beyond the Norway Grants project. The Barnahus has received 100 cases in 2024 so far, which is more than the initial prediction for the year. This is a very positive development as it shows trust in the institution, and it is also common for countries that open Barnahus to receive a very high number of cases on the first years before stabilising.

The opening of the Barnahus was possible through the financial support of the EEA and Norway Grants in Latvia and the advice on operational issues by the Council of Europe.