On 20 February, President Edgars Rinkēvičs met with Minister for Welfare Uldis Augulis at the Riga Castle to discuss key priority measures aimed at promoting demographic growth and the Ministry of Welfare’s priorities for 2025.
President Rinkēvičs emphasised that demographic trends are particularly concerning, underscoring the need to focus on proposals that can be implemented swiftly and have the greatest impact. “Security is a crucial factor in family planning, yet just as important are financial stability, access to healthcare for children, education opportunities, housing issues, and employers’ attitudes towards parents with young children, among other considerations. Given the budgetary demands of the defence sector, we must be realistic about what can be achieved and additionally financed as early as in 2026 to encourage the birth of first children and support already born children and their parents,” said President Rinkēvičs after the meeting.
The discussion on demographic issues will continue on 21 February at the Riga Castle in a broader expert forum.
