Latvian politicians wary ahead of EU debate on refugee quotas

Politicians from Latvia's ruling and opposition parties alike have voiced either reserved or downright negative opinions about a proposal to distribute asylum seekers across the European Union (EU) by introducing refugee quotas for each member state.

Latvian Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma of the centre-right Unity party told the press this week that negotiations in the EU on the proposed refugee quotas would be tough and that Latvia had not backed the idea so far.

The premier admitted, however, that the problem of immigration must be tackled as "refugees keep coming" to the EU.

Instead to taking in immigrants, Latvia might provide a patrol boat or a helicopter to help guard the borders of the countries affected by the influx of immigrants, Straujuma said.

"Until now we have been cautious and have not backed the quotas, but we are the EU presidency now and must lead the debate. We cannot shun the solidarity issue," Straujuma said.

Interior Minister Rihards Kozlovskis also called for a debate in Latvia on refugees' possible re-settlement.

"We see that the situation is pressing and is not getting easier. A debate on it has to be started also in Latvia," the minister said.

The National Alliance, the right-wing partner in Latvia's government coalition, issued a statement Thursday saying that the refugee quotas could not be applied to Latvia which already had the highest proportion of ethnic minority inhabitants in the EU and that Latvia might help refugee-flooded countries with medical and technical support.

Augusts Brigmanis, chairman of the ruling centrist Greens and Farmers Union (ZZS) faction in the Latvian parliament, said that his party would never support admission of refugees in Latvia.

"We have our own problems we have to deal with. First of all we must think how to improve people's life standards in Latvia," the lawmaker said.

Valerijs Agesins, an MP of the opposition leftist Harmony faction, said that Latvia should take a waiting position on the migration issue and not come up with rushed initiatives.

"If cabinet ministers and premier bow to EU authorities again, we will have to address the issue," he said.

The European Commission is expected on May 13 to come up with new migration policy proposals that will include refugee quotas for all member states. EU leaders would then debate the proposals at their summit on June 25-26.

The EU is determined to take resolute action to tackle the refugee issue after more than 1,200 migrants died last month when their boat capsized in the Mediterranean Sea. Endit