POLICY REPORT ON IMMIGRATION AND ASYLUM IN LATVIA ...

105
readmission agreements in which your Member State took part during the reference
period. You could use the following table:
Type of readmission
agreement
(EU or bilateral)
European Union’s
readmission agreement
Third countries involved Main purpose of the
agreement
Georgia
In 2010, the Republic of Latvia has signed readmission protocols for fulfilment of
agreements with the Russian Federation and the Republic of Moldova. The Commission of the
European Union was informed about the conclusion of the readmission protocols with the said
countries.
Currently, bilateral readmission agreements are being drafted with the following
countries: Azerbaijan, Kosovo and Colombia.
By taking into account that agreements of the European Community with third countries
provide signature of readmission protocols for the fulfilment of the bilateral agreements from
the Member States, the Republic of Latvia has draft protocols for the fulfilment of the
readmission agreement with the following third countries in the coordination process:
3) The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia;
4) Bosnia and Herzegovina
Please only provide information on readmission agreements. Information on other
agreements with third countries will need to be added in other sections of the report (e.g.
Sections 8 and 13).
II(f) To devise incentive systems to assist voluntary return and to keep each other informed
Please describe (planned) measures to promote voluntary return, assistance provided in
voluntary return, provision of information to other Member States on person returned.
Draft law "Amendment to the Immigration Law", which was announced by the Meeting of
the State Secretaries on 27 May 2010, stipulates new rules to improve the standards and
procedures in the Republic of Latvia in relation to return of third-country nationals. The said
draft law includes amendments giving an opportunity to a third-country national to cancel a
deportation order, if he or she will apply for the voluntary return programme. By introducing
the amendment to the Law, the conditions of the Latvian migration policy will be considerably
more favourable for promotion of voluntary return of third-country nationals.
In 2010, Riga Office of the International Organization for Migration, within the framework
of project "Preparation of the Return and Reintegration System in Latvia", has helped 40 illegal
immigrants to use the voluntary return programme. Riga Office of the International
Organization for Migration will continue to promote return of illegal immigrants to their
countries of origin by using the support from the European Return Fund. Within the framework
of the voluntary return programme, travel costs of an illegal immigrant’s return to the country
of origin are paid and reintegration assistance is provided.
The State Border Guard exchanges information regarding expelled persons with
FRONTEX agency in report form.