On Monday, March 7, Prime Minister Māris Kučinskis will leave for the meeting of the EU Heads of State or Government, with Turkey to discuss migration-related issues.
The meeting is being convened by President of the European Council Donald Tusk, and it is expected that the main issue on the agenda will be the assessment of implementation of the EU-Turkey Joint Action Plan to stop migration flows from Turkey.
In the European Council's conclusions of February 18–19, the Heads of State or Government stressed that full and prompt implementation of the EU-Turkey Joint Action Plan remains a priority in order to suspend migration flows and fight against a network of human traffickers and smugglers. The European Council recognized that Turkey has taken steps to implement the Joint Action Plan, in particular with regard to the access of Syrian refugees to the labour market of Turkey and the exchange of data with the EU.
At the same time, it is recognized that the flow of migrants who arrive from Turkey to Greece is still too high. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure significant and sustainable reductions in the number of cases of illegal entry from Turkey into the EU. This requires further steps also from the Turkish side to ensure effective implementation of the joint Action Plan.
Latvia welcomes the measures taken by Turkey so far to implement the EU-Turkey Joint Action Plan. Latvia is committed to providing its share of financial assistance to support refugees and refugee-hosting communities through the refugee support mechanism in Turkey. It should also be applauded that the upcoming humanitarian relocation scheme from Turkey is intended to be voluntary.
Latvia also supports NATO's involvement in providing assistance to resolve the refugee and migration crisis in the Aegean Sea.
More detailed information:
Andrejs Vaivars
Press Secretary to the Prime Minister
Phone: 29228678
E-mail: Andrejs.Vaivars@mk.gov.lv