On March 17 and 18, Māris Kučinskis, Prime Minister of the Republic of Latvia, will participate in a meeting of the European Council.
Together with the Heads of the EU States and Governments, the Prime Minister will discuss current migration issues, including cooperation of the EU and Turkey in limiting migration flows as well as matters related to further economic development of the EU.
The main focus of the European Council in this meeting is migration. It is expected that the Heads of the EU States and Governments will examine the progress achieved in implementing the previous decisions and discuss next steps in order to address the migration and refugee crisis.
According to the Latvian position, the main emphasis should be on those measures which are aimed at resuming operation of the Schengen area. It is also necessary to reach an agreement which is acceptable both to the EU and Turkey and which complies with EU and international law regarding cooperation of the EU and Turkey in resolving the refugee crisis.
Within the framework of the EU programme for transferring asylum-seekers, six have been transferred from Greece to Latvia.
Other agenda items include the 2016 European semester/jobs, growth and competitiveness. It is planned that the Heads of the EU States and Governments will approve the priorities of the annual Stability and Growth Pact: re-launching investment, pursuing accelerated structural reforms in order to ensure modernisation of the national economies, and sound fiscal policy.
For additional information, please contact:
Andrejs Vaivars
Press Secretary of the Prime Minister
Phone: 29228678
E-mail: Andrejs.Vaivars@mk.gov.lv