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Refugee crisis in Europe

EU migration policy does not work - Latvian president

Latvian President Raimonds Vejonis says the European Union’s migration policy does not work, as the flow of asylum seekers in Europe is not abating

Latvia’s President Raimonds Vejonis EPA/VALDA KALNINA

Latvia’s President Raimonds Vejonis

© EPA/VALDA KALNINA

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RIGA, May 11. /TASS/. The European Union’s migration policy has not paid off, as the flow of asylum seekers shows no signs of abating, Latvian President Raimonds Vejonis said on Wednesday.

"The European Union’s migration policy does not work," he said. "We can see every day that the flow of asylum seekers in Europe is not abating. It is necessary to find solutions to restrict it."

He pointed to the need of implementing the agreements on strengthening the EU external borders reached earlier and on mechanisms for repatriation of asylum seekers.

According to the president, Latvia is ready to accept refugees, but solely on the basis of the principle of voluntariness. "We are opposed to the introduction of mandatory quotas and have a reserved attitude towards imposing penalties for refusing to accept asylum seekers," Vejonis added.

The European Commission proposed last week to set up a European agency on granting asylum, which will decide what country migrants should be sent to. In this case, the distribution will be automatic, without the right to select the country. Besides, according to the plans of Brussels, the European countries that refuse to share the burden of the high level of immigration will face fines amounting to about 250,000 euros for each refugee.

Latvia earlier agreed to accommodate 531 refugees from the Middle East and Africa until the end of 2017. A total of 15 million euros will be allocated for the purpose. Of these, 8.5 million will be taken from the state budget and the rest - from the EU funds. To date, the country has accommodated 21 asylum seekers.

According to the latest opinion poll, the government’s decision on accepting refuges is not supported by 76.6% of the country’s population.

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Migration Refugee crisis

Military operation in Ukraine

Beijing condemns US hypocrisy around Ukraine conflict

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Among representatives are Governor of the autonomous Gagauzia region of Moldova Yevgenia Gutsul and parliamentary deputy Marina Tauber

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Ukraine says Western systems ineffective against Russia's electronic warfare

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On Monday, the Russian Defense Ministry said the village had been liberated

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North Korea presumably launches ballistic missile — Japan Coast Guard

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Russia, in his words, is "correcting what others have done"

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Russia recovers black boxes from crashed Tu-22M3 bomber

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Russia's eyes open to nature of US sanctions — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov added that the Russian authorities will try to minimize the effect of new EU sanctions against the country

EU reacts to worsening of situation for Ukraine by preparing for new world war — Szijjarto

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West battlegroup destroys two Ukrainian drones, hit over 170 Ukrainian army’s facilities

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Ukrainian troops fleeing Ocheretino in small groups, says DPR

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Almaz-Antey adapts air defense launchers for various missiles

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New US military aid will not prevent end of Kiev regime — Russian mission to the UN

"That’s what happens when the head of state doesn’t care about his own people and sells out his country," Dmitry Polyansky said

Top Hungarian diplomat warns US-NATO-EU competition in Ukraine could spark WWIII

"Preparations for a world war are intensifying in Brussels," Peter Szijjarto warned

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Armenia purchasing only defensive weapons — PM

Yerevan's defense spending is 15-20% of what Azerbaijan spends on it, Nikol Pashinyan said

Gagauzian leader on unity of Moldova’s opposition, ability to watch Russian TV channels

Yevgenia Gutsul underlined that Gagauzia plans to start exporting products to Russia in the near future

International meeting of security representatives opening in St. Petersburg

Moreover, discussions within two theme-based roundtables will be held

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