1. Immigration: a Threat or a Solution? Latvian Case Anitra Plūme, Acting Head of Foreigners Service Department, Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs Warsaw, 24th April, 2008

2. Some facts: Total number of inhabitants of Latvia in 01.01.2008 – 2 276 348 Population by nationality: Latvia (citizens) – 1857508Estonia – 906 Latvia (non-citizens) – 372421Germany - 831 Russia – 29182USA - 586 Lithuania – 3392Moldova - 536 Ukraine – 3063 Other - 5969 Belorussia - 1954

4. Migration flows in Latvia in 1951-1990 (thousands) ImmigrationEmigrationBalance 1951-55212.0161.850.2 1955-60165.2145.819.4 1961-65180.6119.061.6 1966-70146.8101.845.0 1971-75202.0141.061.0 1976-80187.2149.637.6 1981-85171.3131.739.6 1986-90149.8122.926.9

5. Migration after 1991  Department of Migration Affairs was established in 19th April 1991;  Number of annual immigration rapidly decreased and migration balance in 1991 – 1995 was negative: -137 000.  First national legislative acts in the area of migration were adopted and among them – the most important: “Law on Entry and Residence of Foreign Citizens and Stateless Persons into the Republic of Latvia” 9th June 1992.

6. WHAT HAPPENS NOW?

10. The Main Challenge in the field of migration in Latvia: lack of labour force pressure of employers → intergovernmental working group (July 2006) → “Concept of Migration Policy in the Context of Employment” (submitted in the Cabinet of Ministers – May 2007)

11. “Concept of Migration Policy in the Context of Employment”:  Reduced state duty for issuance of a residence and work permit;  “One-stop agency” for obtaining a residence and work permit;  Fast track procedure in cases if there has been substantial lack of labour force detected in certain areas of employment

12. Positive aspects of simplified labour migration policy: - Possibility to react flexibly to the changes in labour market; - Luck of labour force does not pose a threat to the economical development; - It is possible to maintain a competitiveness in the international market in a short-time period; - Growth of salaries corresponds to the growth of productivity; - Possibility to attract more highly-qualified workers.

13. Negative aspects of simplified labour migration policy: - Does not stimulate return of Latvian citizens who work in other EU countries; - Social problems in case of unemployment; - Negative impact on development of internal labour market; - Employers might slow down improvements in areas of social guaranties, employment conditions and research&development.

14. Problems of introduction of new migration policy: -migration – politically sensitive question in Latvia (historical experience); -xenofobic attitude of native population; -lack of integration policy.

15. Thank you for your attention! Contacts: anitra.plume@pmlp.gov.lv phone: +371 67219650 Čiekurkalna 1.līnija 1, Rīga, LV-1026