Henrik Nielsen, Director for Borders and Schengen Affairs of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs visits the Ministry of the Interior

On May 13, 2024, Dimitrijs Trofimovs, State Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior, met with Henrik Nielsen, Director for Borders and Schengen Affairs at the European Commission's Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs.

Discussion Topics:

• Current situation on Latvia's eastern border, which is also the EU's external border: The parties discussed the progress in developing border infrastructure.

• EU's financial support for strengthening the external border: State Secretary Dimitrijs Trofimovs expressed gratitude for the EU's significant financial support in strengthening the external border's surveillance, security, and integrity, especially considering the current geopolitical challenges – the hybrid attack on Latvia's border by the Belarusian regime and Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

• Implementation of the new Migration and Asylum Pact: The parties discussed the implementation of the new Migration and Asylum Pact, which reforms the EU's migration policy.

Dimitrijs Trofimovs reiterated Latvia's consistent support for a comprehensive EU approach to truly sustainable migration management. This approach includes addressing the root causes and enabling factors of illegal migration, effective management of the EU's external borders, and solidarity as a binding principle for all Member States. However, the implementation of solidarity should be flexible and respect each member state's national situation, geographical location, capacity, and capabilities.

Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to continued cooperation on border, migration, and internal security issues.