POLICY REPORT ON IMMIGRATION AND ASYLUM IN LATVIA ...

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Draft law "Amendment to the Immigration Law" was reviewed by the Cabinet of Minster on 21
December, 2010 and will be submitted to the Saeima.
‣ European Council Regulation No. 1030/2002 of 13 June 2002 laying down a uniform
format for residence permits for third-country nationals. 172
In May 2009, European Council Regulation No. 1030/2002 of 13 June 2002 laying
down a uniform format for residence permits for third-country nationals entered into force,
which determines a uniform format for residence permits for third-country nationals. The said
amendments provide an obligation to the EU Member States to start, within 24 months
meaning by May 2011, issuing of residence permits for third-country nationals in a smart card
format by including biometric data. To increase the effectiveness of investment to
infrastructure, EU Member States plan to introduce new identification cards simultaneously
with residence permit cards because, after the introduction of electronic passports (– e–
passports) with person’s biometric data, it is necessary to harmonize the security of personal
identification documents and travel documents, in order such identification cards would not
become the bottleneck.
The Electronic Documents Law, which adopts Directive 1999/93/EC of the European
Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 1999 on a Community framework for electronic
signatures 173 , as well as Cabinet of Ministers regulations that have been issued accordingly, is
sufficient legal basis to include secure electronic signature creation data in electronic
identification cards and to regulate the use of such data for signing e-documents. 174
On 12 January 2010, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the concept of electronic
identification cards which was prepared by the Ministry of Regional Development and Local
Government, which provides the introduction of new personal identification documents:
electronic identification cards. The European Union has determined the procedure for all the
Member States to issue residence permits in the format of electronic identification cards
starting from May of the next year. 175
172 Published: The Official Journal, L 157/1, 15.06.2002.
173 Published: The Official Journal, L 013, 19.01.2000.
174 Cabinet of Ministers Order No. 62 of 10 February 2010 "Concept of Electronic Identification Cards".//The
Latvian Herald, No.25, 12.02.2010.
175 Zaļā gaisma alternatīvai pasei (Green Light for Alternative Passport).//http://zinas.nra.lv/Latvia/16709-zalagaisma-alternativai-pasei.htm
- [see: 30.11.2010]