Latvia Reduces Financial Assistance for Ukrainian Refugees in 2025
The Latvian government has approved amendments to the law on supporting the civilian population of Ukraine, which involve reducing several financial support measures for Ukrainian refugees. According to the new changes, in 2025, 65 million euros will be allocated for the support program, and in 2026, this amount will decrease to 39.7 million euros. This has prompted the government to review the list of services and assistance that will be provided to Ukrainians in the future.
This is reported by AgroReview
Changes in Payments for Ukrainians
Currently, Ukrainian citizens who find employment or start their own business in Latvia are entitled to a one-time financial assistance equal to the minimum monthly wage. However, considering the active participation of Ukrainians in the Latvian labor market and the availability of other employment support tools, the government has decided that further provision of such assistance is no longer justified. The final decision regarding these changes still needs to be approved by the Latvian parliament.
Stable Migration and Employment Growth
The flow of Ukrainian refugees to Latvia in 2025 has remained stable: on average, 500–600 individuals receive temporary protection status each month. It is worth noting that the employment situation for Ukrainians is continuously improving. As of June this year, 9,909 Ukrainian citizens were officially employed. Since 2022, the number of employed Ukrainians and their income levels in Latvia have been gradually increasing.
Meanwhile, Poland has stated that the country can no longer indefinitely accept Ukrainian refugees. Polish authorities plan to focus on the integration and adaptation of those Ukrainian citizens who are already residing in the country. Currently, there are about 1.5 million Ukrainians in Poland.
Given that Ukrainians are participating in the Latvian labor market and engaging in economic activities, as well as the existence of other general mechanisms for employment support, the continuation of this assistance has lost its relevance.