Integration monitor is a daily Latvian press digest on ethnic minority and society integration issues. The Monitor reviews the biggest Latvian dailies: Diena, Latvijas Avize, Neatkariga (in Latvian language), Vesti Segodnya (in Russian language). In specific cases other information sources are used. Latvian Centre for Human Rights is not responsible for information published by the media.

• Real estate dealers do not support cancelling of the legal provision stipulating granting of residence permits to foreign investors

According to the real estate dealers interviewed by Diena, any changes in the policy of granting residence permits to foreign investors can negatively impact not only the real estate market but also the economy of the whole country. As reported, the nationalists’ union All for Latvia!/FF-LNIM insists on cancelling the legal norm stipulating granting of residence permits to foreigners who buy expensive real estate in Latvia. The Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis also believes that it would be wrong to cancel the existing system of granting residence permits as it insures significant income to the state budget. At the same time, the Prime Minister believes that it is necessary to consider how to decrease the rate of issuing the residence permits and to facilitate the contribution of this system into the economy. Diena