Migration Policy in Latvia & EU: Myths vs. Reality

The existing Migration Pact is not perfect and does not solve all the challenges, it is a compromise of the moment, a step on which to continue to improve the EU’s asylum policy. That is why I, together with several interior ministers of other EU member states, have approached the European Commission several times, drawing attention to the aspects on which work needs to be continued. We are working to ensure that the number of migrants who have been prevented from crossing the border illegally is taken into account in the development of the formula for the solidarity mechanism.

Conservative and consistent migration policy in Latvia

Yes, the last ten years have proven that the European Union has not been strict enough in its migration policy. We in Latvia also feel the consequences.

Both as the Minister of the Interior and as a citizen of Latvia, I do not want to allow Latvia to end up in a similar situation that we see in some Western European countries, where significant security challenges arise due to migration.

Therefore, we will continue to be conservative in our domestic migration policy, prioritizing our security, and act preventively by strengthening our national legislation:

• we have developed and submitted to the Saeima an informative report with more than 20 proposals for stricter control of citizens of third countries in Latvia;

• The State Police, together with the State Border Guard and other services, regularly carry out controls and raids in order to keep track of the reasons for the stay of citizens of third countries in Latvia;

• we have also changed the procedures for the entry of citizens of third countries into Latvia, developing a completely new information system;

• as well as for the fourth year in a row, we are constantly on guard at the external eastern border of the EU – in 2025, more than 12,000 illegal attempts to enter our country have been prevented.

Work on migration policy continues, and I can definitely say that this issue is one of the priorities of this government. The head of the Latvian government has updated Latvia’s position and consistent policy at the level of EU heads of state, I am grateful to the previous ministers of interior affairs who have been in active dialogue with the European Commission and the other EU member states in order to advance the migration policy in the interests of Latvian society.

I also thank every employee of the internal affairs sector who takes care of our security day after day.