EU – Baltic States, Latvia, Legislation, Real Estate, Society

This center will cooperate with the Municipal Police, executive boards, and companies. The plan is to strengthen the Municipal Police and offer jobs to refugees.

Usakovs believes that asylum seekers could look after parks and cemeteries, as well as carry out other simple and technical works.

The municipality also deals with issues regarding camps – if refugees end up living in a railway station, they could also look for camp services, said Usakovs.

The mayor emphasized that a number of matters are not clear yet, as there is no information about the incoming refugees.

However, he is certain that all refugees who arrive in Latvia, sooner or later will end up in Riga and thus become a "headache" for the capital. Usakovs added that he expects no realistic aid from the state, and the Riga City Council is determined to deal with the problem on its own, as there will be no other choice.

As reported, EU interior ministers recently allotted Latvia an additional 281 refugees from the original number, thus, the total number that will need safe haven stands at 531. It is currently estimated that Latvia could be paid EUR 6,000 per refugee.