Next year, state support for the civilian population of Ukraine in Latvia will decrease by approximately 40% - from the planned 65 million euros this year to just under 40 million.
This means changes in benefits and the procedure for providing certain services, while support for the most vulnerable groups will be maintained. The Ministry of the Interior emphasizes that the reduction in support is not related to improvements in the military situation in Ukraine.
"In fact, the basis is available funding - only and exclusively taking into account all budget expenditures, starting with the defense sector and government decisions. Right now, this is the maximum that the government can provide," noted Interior Minister Rihards Kozlovskis.
At the Society Integration Foundation - one of the institutions working with Ukrainian civilians - the most common issues encountered are employment and housing. Since the beginning of the war, nearly four years have passed, and a significant portion of the arrivals have stabilized.
"There are many Ukrainians who have managed to integrate. They are working in fairly well-paid jobs, and they are motivated. Those who want to live and see their life in Latvia go through the integration process faster," stated Kristīne Kļukovica, director of the event coordination department for cohesion.
The coordinator of the Ukrainian community in Kekava, Irina Bondarchuk, noted that the reduction in support will be significant and will most affect the most vulnerable groups, including families with children, people with disabilities, the elderly, and single parents.
"The burden on municipalities and non-governmental organizations, which are already working with limited resources, will increase. This may slow down the integration processes, hinder language learning, stabilize life, and enter the labor market. In the long term, this may also lead to additional costs for the state," said Bondarchuk.
According to the Ministry of the Interior, there are just over 31,000 Ukrainian civilians living in Latvia with active temporary protection status.
