Latvia to increase support for Ukrainian refugees by €10 mln

Latvia's government plans to increase funding of local bodies by €10 million to prolong support programs for Ukrainian refugees forced to leave their homes during the full-scale war.

On March 28, 2023, Latvia's Ministry of Environmental Protection (VARAM) issued an order to provide funding totaling €21,8 mln to cover the costs of local self-government bodies in 2023, which provided support to citizens of Ukraine, including accommodation and food.

Now, the government plans to increase funding to €32 million euros to continue to cover the cost of supporting migrants from Ukraine.

The Latvian Finance Minister will now inform the Sejm's Budget and Finance Committee about changes in the funding. If the committee does not raise objections within five working days after receiving the relevant information, changes in the funding will be introduced.

As stated by Latvia's head of the military department Inara Murniece, in the Spanish of Toledo, before the informal meeting of EU defense ministers, the state supports all initiatives to build up military assistance to Ukraine and now spends over 1% of the national GDP to provide such assistance.

Our military assistance to Ukraine exceeds 1% of our GDP. Today we are concentrating our efforts on training Ukrainian servicemen and have committed to provide such training for 3,000 Ukrainian servicemen in Latvia. This is a large number, given the size of my country and our armed forces. We will be happy if other EU countries join us in such work, Murniece said.

She supported the proposal to increase funding for Ukraine's needs from the resources of the European Peace Fund.

These proposals are on the table. Latvia supports all initiatives to strengthen and help Ukraine. We know why this is necessary. Russia's incredibly brutal war against Ukraine continues. Ukraine protects its very existence, its nation and its people, said the defense minister.

Latvia intends to take part in building up the capabilities of the European defense industry and will work to create a full cycle of large-caliber artillery ammunition production on its own territory.

We are moving very well in strengthening and developing the military industry in the EU. Latvia has its own projects for the production of large-caliber ammunition. We will begin with the production of certain components for such ammunition, and after that we will gradually, step by step, move towards the development of a full production cycle in Latvia, the Latvian official said.