A van previously used by the Parliament of Latvia will be delivered to Chernihiv Oblast in Ukraine to supplement the fleet of vehicles, which is crucial to ensure the rotation of army troops to the front line. Today, the Saeima Presidium made a decision to donate the van owned by the Parliament to Ukraine. 

Next year, the consolidated budget revenue is planned at EUR 14.5 billion with the expenditure amounting to EUR 16.2 billion, provides the Law on the State Budget for 2024 and the Budget Framework for 2024, 2025, and 2026, adopted by the Saeima in the second and final reading on Saturday, 9 December.

The value added tax (VAT) on vegetables, berries, and fruit specific to Latvia will be set at 12 % next year, according to amendments to the Value Added Tax Law adopted by the Saeima in the final reading. The amendments also stipulate that from next year VAT will not apply to fees for sports competitions and activities organised by associations or foundations, or to fees for children's stays at camps. The amendments are related to the 2024 state budget.

On Wednesday, 6 December, the Saeima adopted in the final reading amendments to the Consumer Rights Protection Law, providing for a 30 % compensation of total interest payments for borrowers of mortgage loans. 

Currently, the annual Transatlantic Forum of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (PA) and the Atlantic Council is taking place in Washington, D.C., the capital of the U.S. MPs from the Alliance's member states are discussing the implementation of the Vilnius Summit decisions and preparations for the Washington Summit next year.

On Thursday, 30 November, the Saeima adopted the Law “On the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence” (also known as the Istanbul Convention).

On Friday, 24 November, at the 42nd Session of the Baltic Assembly (BA), MPs from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania discussed the achievements of the Estonian Presidency and agreed on the cooperation priorities for Lithuania’s Presidency of the BA in 2024. The first priority for 2024 is: Baltic region confident in its security, development, and resilience.

The war in Ukraine has indeed brought about a paradigm shift in approaching security issues in Europe. The Baltic States not only knew and understood Russia's intentions, but also, with their active efforts, empowered the strong allied response to Russia’s aggression. This was underlined by Antoņina Ņenaševa, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima, addressing the 42nd Session of the Baltic Assembly (BA) in Tallinn on Friday, 24 November.

On Thursday, 23 November, the Saeima adopted a statement on support for the opening of European Union accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova.

To promptly alleviate the adverse impact of the extraordinary rise in energy prices on households with low to medium low incomes, on Thursday, 23 November, the Saeima adopted in the third and final reading the Law on State Aid for Energy Supply Costs.