Families caring for children with disabilities, as well as people with group I disabilities will receive the status of the protected user and therefore pay less for electricity. This is envisioned in the amendments to the Electricity Market Law which the Saeima adopted in the final reading on Thursday, 17 September. 

Amendments to the Population Register Law, which the Saeima approved in the first reading on Thursday, 17 September, anticipate that as of 2017 a new type of personal identification number will be issued that will not include the birth-date. 

“Russia’s aggression in Ukraine undermines the system of international law, which has been developed over 70 years. It is in the interest of every member of the international community that we return to implementation of the rules based system. International organizations must encourage the implementation of the Minsk agreements,” Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, emphasised in her address to the 4th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament in New York on Monday, 31 August. When discussing peace as a prerequisite for sustainable global development, she remarked that unfortunately war has become a daily reality in many places for many people – in Syria, Iraq and also Ukraine.

“International community must continue supporting Ukraine both on the political level and with specific aid initiatives,” Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, stressed during her meeting with Lithuanian counterpart Loreta Graužinienė on Monday, 3 August. The two met as part of Graužinienė’s working visit to Latvia. 

On Wednesday, 15 July, members of the European Affairs Committee were updated on the latest developments in Greece and the euro area. Members of the Committee learned that even if today the Hellenic parliament approves the reform agreement adopted by the extraordinary Euro Summit meeting on 12 July, and the countries of the euro area decide to give a new loan to Greece, the assistance will not be covered from national budgets of Latvia or any other country. 

On Wednesday, 8 July, during the extraordinary plenary sitting of the Saeima, Raimonds Vējonis assumed his duties of office and took the solemn oath: “I swear that all of my work will be dedicated to the welfare of the people of Latvia. I will do everything in my power to promote the prosperity of the Republic of Latvia and all who live here. I will hold sacred and will observe the Constitution of Latvia and the laws of the State. I will act justly towards all and will fulfil my duties conscientiously.”

On Friday, 26 June 2015, Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, awarded certificates of merit to supporters of the Latvian presidency of the Council of the European Union. 

On Saturday, 27 June, Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, opened the 76th EU-US interparliamentary meeting by thanking the U.S. for supporting Latvia’s security. “We highly appreciate the leading role the U.S. have taken in reinforcing the NATO Air Policing Mission over the Baltic States, organising military training and organising high-level visits to our region,” said Speaker Mūrniece to the members of the U.S. Congress and the European Parliament. With regard to developments in Ukraine, the Speaker of the Saeima expressed concerns about implementation of the Minsk agreements. “Violent confrontations continue, and people are dying every day. Consequently, the EU extended sanctions against Russia till January. We should make sure that further restrictive measures are imposed if Russia continues its aggression in Ukraine. Our strong and unified action is a key in the quest for the most effective means to deal with the situation,” noted Ināra Mūrniece.