Latvian gov't coalition strikes agreement on refugee resettlement costs

After weeks of fierce debate, Latvia's center-right government coalition on Monday reached an agreement on how to finance the planned admission of hundreds of refugees expected to arrive in the Baltic country in the winter, local media reported.

Monthly benefit that will be paid to each person with refugee status has been set at 139 euros (153.5 U.S. dollars), which is equal to the monthly minimum income, Latvian Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma told reporters following a meeting of the coalition cooperation council.

"The coalition agreed that the benefit will be equal to subsistence minimum," he said.

The central government has committed to compensating local governments for specific expenses related to the accommodation and integration of the refugees.

The coalition partners, however, did not start debating an action plan worked out by the Interior Ministry for the refugees' integration in Latvia's society.

The debate was postponed for a week because of the many objections raised by the right-wing National Alliance and the centrist Greens and Farmers (ZZS).

According to the government's initial estimates, the costs of the refugees' resettlement would total 16 million euros over the next couple of years, which many saw as an excessively large amount.

The Interior Ministry has now cut the cost estimate to 15.4 million euros. The EU is expected to contribute 42 percent, or 6.5 million euros of that amount, while Latvia would have to provide 8.9 million euros.

The first group of refugees, who have to be resettled under a deal reached by EU member states, is expected to arrive in Latvia this winter. (1 euro = 1.10 U.S. dollars) Endit