Latvia has taken a firm stand against the European Union’s new Migration and Asylum Pact, openly rejecting both the relocation of migrants and the financial penalties foreseen under the scheme.
Speaking during the annual foreign policy debate in the Latvian parliament on January 29th, Foreign Minister Baiba Braže made it clear that Riga will not comply with the forced migration policies imposed from Brussels.
“When it comes to migration, which has been the subject of much discussion, I think the government’s position is absolutely clear: no to illegal migration. We have strengthened border protection,” Braže said, stressing that Latvia will neither accept new migrants nor pay for them. Under the new pact, member states must either take in migrants from other countries or contribute around €20,000 per rejected migrant. For Latvia, both options are unacceptable.
The Latvian government argues that it is already carrying a disproportionate burden in protecting the EU’s external borders. In recent years, more than 12,000 attempts at illegal border crossings have been prevented, primarily along the Latvian–Belarusian border. Authorities have completed the construction of a border fence, reinforced staffing levels, and deployed border guards and national guard units around the clock to counter the instrumentalisation of migration.
Pressure on Latvia’s borders remains high. According to the State Border Guard, in 2025 alone, 11,329 illegal crossings have been prevented, compared to 5,388 in 2024.
While rejecting migrant relocation, Latvia says it is willing to show solidarity in other ways. Braže stated that Riga is ready to share assistance, expertise and border protection experience with other EU member states. What the government categorically opposes is the redistribution of migrants across Europe.
Latvia’s stance highlights growing divisions within the EU. Southern member states such as Spain, Italy, Greece and Cyprus have welcomed the pact as a mechanism to share what they call the “common European responsibility” for migration.
While the southern states are in favour of the plan, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic have flatly rejected the idea of compulsory relocation, denouncing it as a violation of national sovereignty.
Supporters say the Pact establishes a clear and predictable framework for managing migration, while critics caution that it may foster reliance on EU funds without tackling the underlying causes of migration, particularly instability in Africa and the Middle East.
