The Office of the Ombudsman is launching a project to establish a mechanism for screening procedures to monitor fundamental rights

On June 12, 2026 the European Union member states will begin enforcing the Regulation 2024/1356, which introduces screening of third-country nationals at the European Union’s external borders. The Regulation requires Member States to establish an independent mechanism for monitoring fundamental rights to evaluate whether human rights are respected in the applicable procedures. In Latvia, this function will be performed by the Office of the Ombudsman.

To fulfill the obligations set forth in the Regulation, the Ombudsman’s Office is launching the project “Implementation of a Mechanism for Monitoring the Enforcement of Fundamental Rights in the Foreigner Screening Procedures” within the framework of the Financial Support Instrument for Border Management and Visa Policy for 2021–2027.  The aim of the project is to strengthen the capacity of the Ombudsman’s Office to establish and ensure the functioning of an independent mechanism for monitoring fundamental rights in screening procedures for third-country nationals at external borders.

The project includes the following key activities:

• to develop an annual action plan and monitoring methodology for the mechanism;
• to conduct regular and unannounced inspections at screening sites, checking living conditions and paying particular attention to vulnerable groups;
• to prepare reports and recommendations on the observance of fundamental rights;
• to ensure the capacity of the Ombudsman’s Office to effectively carry out monitoring.

The project will be carried out from June 1, 2026, to December 31, 2029.

The total project funding amounts is 377 224 EUR, of which 282 918 EUR is provided by the European Union and 94 306 EUR by the State budget. The project is co-financed by the European Union under the inancial Support for Border Management and Visa Policy for planning period 2021–2027, administered by the Ministry of the Interior in Latvia.

For Context:

On June 12, 2026, the EU Screening Regulation [2024/1356] will enter into force, introducing mandatory and unified inspections of third-country nationals who have crossed the EU’s external borders, without fulfilling the entry conditions, or who are staying illegally in a Member State and who were not subjected to border checks upon entry.