POLICY REPORT ON IMMIGRATION AND ASYLUM IN LATVIA ...

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A minor third-country national or stateless person who does not have the legal basis to
reside in the Republic of Latvia has the right to acquire elementary education during a period
stated for voluntary return, or during a period for which expulsion has been postponed, as well
as during detention of him or her.
In compliance with the above-mentioned Law "Amendment to the Education Law", a
fee for the acquisition of elementary education and secondary education for the above-indicated
persons shall be determined and paid in accordance with the same procedure as for citizens of
Latvia and non-citizens of Latvia 75 . The Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs has
already noted in its Policy report on Migration and Asylum in Latvia in Year 2009 that the
draft framework document for the society integration policy “Main Positions of the Society
Integration Policy 2010-2016” was developed. During the development of the said draft law,
public debates were organised during the period from 3 August to 6 September 2010. During
the debates, 180 non-governmental organisations were addressed. On 14 October 2010, public
debates for the draft document were organised with 37 participants from various state
institutions, governmental organisations, as well as scientists and journalists. Planning period
stage was changed in the draft document and action fields were specified, thus the title of the
document now is "Main Positions of the Society Integration Policy 2011-2017" and it sets four
main fields of integration policy:
1. strengthening of the national identity, including the acquisition of citizenship and
promotion of civic participation;
2. development of the cross-cultural dialogue, including the development of communication
skills and competences, cross-cultural dialogue space and the state language skills;
3. prevention of discrimination and promotion of tolerance;
4. integration of immigrants.
The issues covered in the main positions correspond with the tasks set in the Stockholm
Programme for ensuring a common space of freedom, safety and justice. The project with main
positions is being prepared for the announcement by the meeting of the State Secretaries. 76
When developing the programmes for the European Fund for the Integration of thirdcountry
nationals under the General Programme of Solidarity and Management of Migration
Flows for 2007-2013, consultations are held with those non-governmental institutions which
work with matters of integration of immigrants, human rights, anti-discrimination and culture
75 Information provided by officials of the Ministry of Education and Science.
76 Information provided by officials of the Ministry of Justice.