The Baltic states in terms of the migrant crisis in 2014-2016
The study analyzes the migration situation in Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia during the crisis of 2014-2016. The paper addresses the issue of quotas proposed by the European Commission, the attitude of the governments of the Baltic countries towards the admission of refugees, the reasons for the refusal and consent, the role of financial factor in these decisions. The author reviews the security problem in the Schengen Area and the activities of Europol to prevent the illegal infiltration into the Baltic region. The research focuses on public opinion and growing opposition to migrants and refugees as well as the government activities. On the basis of documents of the European Commission, Europol, the European Statistical Office, the official agencies of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, the author reveals the reasons for a particular view of the Baltic countries on the refugee crisis. Since the influx of migrants and refugees is not devastating, the concept of migrant crisis cannot be referred to the situation in the Baltic states.