On 28 September, Minister of the Interior Rihards Kozlovskis and State Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior Dimitrijs Trofimovs participated in the meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council of the European Union (EU) in Brussels. Taking into account the trends at the EU borders in recent months, Kozlovskis drew the attention of his colleagues from the Member States to the fact that the Latvian–Belarusian border is also experiencing an increase in migration flows. Efforts to destabilize the EU and its Member States through migrants are not only continuing, but are intensifying. At the same time, the Minister of the Interior stressed that the Baltic States remain vigilant and united in strengthening the EU’s eastern border.
The Minister also pointed out that, in general, the fight against irregular migration at the EU borders requires continuous and coordinated cooperation with the countries of origin and transit. R.Kozlovskis also stressed that Latvia believes it is useful to consider in more detail innovative approaches to managing migration flows.
R.Kozlovskis: “We should be aware that at a time when the hybrid attack supported by the Belarusian authorities continues on the Latvian border, we not only need to build a border fence, but also make much more use of modern technologies that will help border guards to react even more quickly to attempts to illegally enter Latvia and the European Union.”
At its meeting on 28 September, the Council discussed the latest situation on EU migration. The situation has critically deteriorated along the Central Mediterranean migration route, where more than 11 thousand people have reached Italian shores in a matter of days. Accordingly, on 17 September this year, the European Commission presented a 10-point plan for further action in Lampedusa, including the reinforcement of support by EU agencies, the relocation of migrants under the voluntary solidarity mechanism and the practical implementation of the previously concluded Memorandum of Understanding between the EU and Tunisia.
Likewise, in view of the ongoing Russian war in Ukraine and its unpredictable end, ministers reached political agreement at the Council on a decision extending the right to temporary protection in the EU for Ukrainian citizens and their family members until 4 March 2025. This decision provides security and predictability for Ukrainian civilians in receiving various types of support and rights during their stay in the EU, as well as enabling the competent authorities of EU Member States to plan their work in providing assistance. In addition, the Ministers of the Interior of the Member States met with the Ministers of the Interior of Latin American countries to discuss cooperation in the fight against organized crime and drug trafficking.
Contacts:
Head of the Office of the Minister for the Interior
Beate Barkāne-Iļjenkova
e-mail: beate.barkane-iljenkova@iem.gov.lv
Phone: +37126 073167 or +371 67829044