EU – Baltic States, Financial Services, Latvia, Legislation, Society

This matter will be resolved by the Cabinet at the end of the month – October 20, she said.

Straujuma informed that several proposed benefit amounts were tossed out, but there was no agreement.

The coalition one week ago discussed the benefit's sum, and there were no objections to reducing it. Only the interior and welfare ministries spoke up, reminding that a consultation with Brussels is necessary on whether such a move [decreasing the benefit] does not run counter to EU regulations and directives.

At this time, the benefit for refugees is set at EUR 256.

Representative of the National Union "All for Latvia!" - "For Fatherland and  Freedom"/DNNL Janis Dombrava said earlier that the minimum pension in Latvia is 64.03 euros per month, and a guaranteed minimum income - 49.80 euros, and he also proposed to equate the benefits for refugees in these amounts. The representative of the national block also said that the refugees will be able to receive other additional benefits, particularly for children.

He added that all the coalition adheres to a common opinion that the level of benefits for refugees must be reduced to avoid an unequal position with the residents of Latvia.