# CE2004088EN.01052201.xml

| 8.4.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 88/522 |
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8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 88/522

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(2004/C 88 E/0535)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0725/04

by Daniela Raschhofer (NI) to the Commission

(11 March 2004)

Subject:   Accession of Latvia

Subject:

Latvia will join the EU on 1 May 2004. As the Commission is aware, the population of Latvia is made up of several ethnic groups, including Russians. The ‘acquis communautaire’, pursuant to which Latvian legislation may not contain discriminatory provisions, will come into force in Latvia on its accession to the EU.

| 1. | Do national provisions still exist which discriminate against individual ethnic groups, for example with regard to freedom to travel? |
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1.

Do national provisions still exist which discriminate against individual ethnic groups, for example with regard to freedom to travel?

| 2. | If so, what action is the Commission taking? |
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2.

If so, what action is the Commission taking?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(27 April 2004)

(27 April 2004)

As the Commission spelled out in its Regular Reports on EU accession preparation, Latvia meets the political criteria for EU accession, which includes the protection of minorities.

The 2003 Comprehensive Monitoring Report on Latvia (1) mentioned remaining restrictions concerning citizenship and language requirements in the field of the four freedoms. The Commission underlined that legislative requirements on language proficiency and their implementation must be in full respect of the principles of justified interests, proportionality and non-discrimination and can only be applied in very exceptional circumstances, on a case by case basis. Since then, and according to the follow-up monitoring, Latvia has further amended its legislation, e.g. by eliminating restrictions regarding security services and lawyers, in line with the ‘acquis’.

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In the context of the anti-discrimination legislation, Latvia has addressed the remaining shortcomings in this field, including further legislative alignment and the establishment of the Equality Body. Latvia has committed itself to completing alignment on outstanding issues before accession.

As regards ethnic minorities in particular, Latvia was strongly encouraged to promote the integration of the Russian minority by, in particular, continuing to accelerate the speed of naturalisation procedures, and by taking other proactive measures to increase the rate of naturalisation. Since then, several further steps have been taken to ease the process and the rate of applications for naturalisation has doubled.

As regards the freedom of travel, it falls to the competence of Member States to decide whether holders of non-Latvian passports are exempted from visa requirements or not. After accession, Member States will be able to continue to waive visa requirements for holders of non-citizen passports. Once a member of Schengen, non-citizens will be able to travel to the Schengen area on the basis of their passports and a residence permit without applying for a visa.

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(1)  COM(2003) 675 final.

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