Today, on 16 June, a bilateral video meeting between Interior Minister Sandis Ģirģens and European Union Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson was held to discuss Latvia's position on migration issues and asylum seekers' policies. Latvia's position on migration was expressed in accordance with a letter signed by the Ministers for the Interior of seven EU countries.
“Since the beginning of the year, the European Union has faced two major challenges: COVID-19 pandemics and significant migration pressures on the EU's external borders in the south. These events have served as a strong reminder of the need to strengthen and develop more practical cooperation at EU level," Minister for Home Affairs Sandis Ģirģens says.
Ministers of Home Affairs of seven EU countries - Latvia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia - at the beginning of June this year, a signed collective letter was sent to the European Commission, which advocated the creation of a comprehensive and crisis-resistant migration and asylum system, called the Migration Pact, based on the balance between responsibility and solidarity to address the migration challenges of the 21st century.
Ministers agreed that priority should be given to the full and rapid implementation of the new EBCGA regulation, the development and implementation of ambitious mandatory border procedures, and the full functioning of this large-scale interoperability of IT systems in the area. A set of common minimum standards for border surveillance should be developed and introduced in order to prevent any illegal border crossing. All measures still need to be taken to increase the capacity of the European Union to accelerate the return of all persons without a legitimate right to reside in the European Union, preferably directly from entry to the EU's external borders. Comprehensive relations with third countries should be developed on the basis of conditions in different areas, such as visa, development and trade policy. In line with their mandate, the relevant EU institutions and agencies, particularly Frontex, need to make a lot more effort in this regard.
“Latvia as a small country invests substantial work and resources to strengthen EU borders by actively participating in Frontex operations, protecting the external border, combating smuggling and economic crime, and preventing illegal migration from the EU's eastern borders. I believe that migration policy should be coordinated and aligned with the capabilities of each individual country. The new migration policy must be in the interest of all Member States, and real changes in the area of asylum and migration can only be achieved by agreeing on key issues, continues.
Interior Minister S.Ģirģens in a video meeting informed the Commissioner that in matters relating to the reception of asylum seekers in the Republic of Latvia from other Member States or third countries, in response to an exceptional influx of asylum seekers to the external borders of the European Union, within the framework of the mechanisms for resettlement or resettlement of established asylum seekers, as well as in the framework of the development of such mechanisms, the Cabinet, the Cabinet shall take decisions and state the position of the State of Latvia (also in the institutions of the European Union), on the basis of a decision of the Saeima.
Minister stressed that the reform of EU asylum policy should be based on a consensus among all Member States, repeatedly opposing the mandatory resettlement of all types of asylum seekers and migrants, and pointed out that introducing mandatory resettlement would risk creating a strong attractiveness factor for the EU as well as incentives for migrant traffickers and traders, thereby exposing people to life risks. The Minister was also critical of the offer to make joint and several payments if Latvia did not take asylum seekers from other EU Member States. Clear rules of responsibility should be established and abuses of the asylum system should be reduced (including in the case of visa-free countries and safe countries of origin). The fight against migrant traffickers and traffickers outside and outside the EU should be strengthened, by providing sufficient financial resources, strengthening the capabilities of Europol and Frontex in this context and improving their cooperation. We support further strengthening solidarity with front-line Member States with extensive financial, technical, operational and expert support provided by the EU, its agencies and Member States.
Prepared by:
Beata Jonite
Adviser to the Minister of the Interior
Communication issues
Tel: 28351588
E-mail: beata.jonite@iem.gov.lv