Leading Latvian MP says taking in new refugees must be put on hold

During the Latvian parliament's Citizenship, Migration and Social Cohesion Committee meeting on Tuesday, the committee's chairman Ilmars Latkovskis said that the process of taking in asylum seekers must be put on hold as it has emerged that most asylum seekers granted refugee status by Latvia have gone to Germany.

"Before we approve next year's budget, we must put on hold for the moment taking in asylum seekers. Now is the right time to assess and correct our work. Otherwise we are just throwing away money for mentors, Latvian language, history and culture classes and benefits," Latkovskis said.

"We already told the government before we must put on hold the process of taking in refugees for the time being. We also said back in the spring that if changes are not made, then none of the asylum seekers which have arrived here will have gotten a job or a place of residence by the autumn. Now we see that this has come true. We should not make a huge issue out of this, but see this as something to learn from," he added.

Latvian Prime Minister Maris Kucinskis said later Tuesday that benefits to asylum seekers are not paid from the national budget.

"The European Commission allocates funds for each asylum seeker we take in, this means that their benefits are not paid from the national budget," the prime minister told journalists.

He also admitted that Latvia, unlike other countries, does not have experience in integrating refugees. "This is our first experience, we must continue to monitor the situation," the premier said.

Commenting on the information that most of the asylum seekers who have been granted refugee status in Latvia have left the country, Kucinskis reminded that they are permitted to travel within the European Union (EU). It must also be taken into account that these people could be transferred back to Latvia if they attempt to seek refugee status in a different country.

Of the 23 asylum seekers that have been granted refugee or alternative protection status in Latvia as part of the European Union's refugee relocation program, 21 people are already in Germany, according to the Latvian public television.

According to the law, asylum seekers who obtain the status of a refugee or an alternative status do not have to inform the authorities if they intend to leave Latvia. They, just as any other resident of Latvia, have the right to travel to any country in EU.

The first group of asylum seekers was transferred to Latvia in early February this year.

Latvia has committed itself to taking in 531 asylum seekers in two years. While most of them will be relocated from EU member states Greece and Italy, 50 people have to be relocated from third countries, most likely Turkey. Endit