Today, May 1st 2024, Latvia celebrates 20 years since accession to the European Union (hereinafter – EU). During this period, the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (hereinafter - OCMA) has successfully implemented a significant number of EU-funded projects. In total, 53 useful projects have been implemented for clients of the administration – residents of Latvia, asylum seekers, foreign students and employees – totaling ~ 35 million euro.
"The financial opportunities provided by EU funds have been and continue to be an indispensable assistant, allowing the OCMA both to improve its operations and to build new customer-friendly and up-to-date services. The OCMA can be proud of many very successful EU fund projects", underlines Ms Maira Roze, Chief of the OCMA.
In implementing EU funded projects, the OCMA has paid particular attention to services provided in the field of migration and asylum, also addressing urgent accommodation and humanitarian issues, such as the 2021 migrant crisis and the drawing up of 2022 residence documents for Ukrainian civilians who sought asylum in Latvia due to the war in Ukraine initiated by Russia.
EU funding has enabled the creation of an efficient, up-to-date technology-based solution - a register of natural persons - thus creating a single inventory of natural persons (including foreigners), reducing the administrative burden on citizens in requesting news and improving access to services.
Thanks to funding from EU funds, an electronic migration tool has been introduced allowing customers to quickly and easily obtain the necessary information on the conditions of residence permits, national fees and documents to be submitted. In the coming years, a modern and easy-to-use e-service is expected to be created through EU funding, which will facilitate the process of submitting documents to customers for maintenance permits.
The OCMA has also provided support for short-term accommodation of Ukrainian civilians through the financing of the European Economic area grants, the Norwegian Financial Mechanism Bilateral Cooperation Fund and the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, as well as helped more than
50 000 Ukrainian civilians, issuing and registering residence permits and visas, as well as providing consultations regarding the conditions of residence in Latvia.
Within 20 years, 11 projects have been implemented in the field of asylum, the financing of which has allowed the establishment of a new accommodation center for asylum seekers in Liepna, Aluksne municipality, as well as the construction of an already existing center in Mucenieki, Ropazi municipality. Also over 20 years more than 5000 asylum seekers have been provided with basic necessities – food and hygiene parcels, as well as support measures such as translation services, medical and psychological assistance. Financial support from EU funds has been indispensable for the successful administration of asylum seeker centers at times when the number of asylum seekers has been particularly high. It has also enabled the OCMA employees to improve their professional knowledge.
The OCMA is currently implementing 5 EU funded projects with a total funding of more than EUR 10 million. Through EU funded projects, it is planned to introduce a new e-service in the area of residence permits in the coming years, as well as continue to provide support for the reception and accommodation of asylum seekers, as well as providing temporary protection to Ukrainian civilians.
The information was prepared by:
Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs
Public relations department
prese@pmlp.gov.lv, 67219185
