On April 29th 2024, Mr Rihards Kozlovskis, Minister of the Interior participated in the European Union (EU) ministerial conference on the implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum. The preparation of this Pact, which reforms EU migration policy, took more than a decade at EU level, so the implementation mechanisms must be effective.
The Pact comprehensively reforms the EU's migration and asylum system by establishing a new permanent solidarity mechanism at EU level, clarifying the timeframe and framework for the different procedures, making use of a binding border procedure and introducing a specific framework for crisis situations.
Mr Rihards Kozlovskis stressed at the conference the most important elements for Latvia in managing migration - prevention of root causes and contributing factors of illegal migration, effective management of the EU's external borders and flexible approach to solidarity between Member States, which respects the national situation, geographical location, opportunities, etc. of each country.
The aim of the conference was to discuss further action and the responsibilities of EU Member States in the process of implementing the Pact.
The Ministerial Conference was held in Belgium and was attended by representatives of the European Commission, the Ministers of Home Affairs and Migration of the EU Member States and Schengen associated States and representatives of the relevant EU agencies.
It has already been reported that EU Member States are under increased migratory pressure for years. On April 8th 2024, the European Parliament adopted new legislation on how migration and asylum issues will be addressed at European Union level.
