The conference took place on 17th of April, 2019 at the Ministry of the Interior in Latvia, gathering together policy makers, academics and decision-makers. The topic was widely discussed – what are the aspects of positive and negative influence on visa liberalization within the EU and third counties, how the liberalization of visa will impact the citizens on national-state level and what kind of actions EU will take. The Baltic state countries provided their insight on challenges and solutions that they are facing with the visa liberalization process. Representatives of Ukraine and Georgia provided their opinions on vise free regime, as well as gave an insight into challenges that they are facing, and how they are trying to limit them.
The guest of honour – Mathias Czaika provided deep academic knowledge insight on visa- liberalization. Mr. M.Czaika is a Professor in Migration and Integration and Head of the Department for Migration and Globalization at Danube University Krems, Austria. Mr. M.Czaika is also Research Associate at the Department for International Development and former Director of the International Migration Institute, both at University of Oxford. Mr. M.Czaika’s input was significant as it gave broader understanding on visa liberalization by using empirical data and theoretical approach.
The purpose of the ‘The impact of visa liberalisation in countries of destination – challenges and solutions in the Baltic region’ conference was to bring together people from academic and governmental sectors. Moreover the aim was to identify common challenges for visa liberalization in Baltic states and to promote cooperation with visa-free countries.
Experts from Latvia, Lithuania and Poland discussed about common and different aspects on tendencies they were facing on visa liberalization process with Eastern partnership states.
