The state budget for 2012 is aimed at strengthening the national financial system. Currently we are closing the international loan programme, thus we expect that the budget for 2013 will be fully dedicated to growth and financial independence. These were the main points highlighted by Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, on Tuesday, 6 December, when she accepted the briefcase with the draft budget from the Minister for Finance.“In recent years, consolidation has become a buzzword; it is a strong and positively charged word which means strengthening in Latin,” said the Speaker.
Press releases
European Affairs Committee adopts declarations appealing for equitable Common Agricultural Policy and Cohesion Policy (16.12.2011.)
On Friday, 2 December, the European Affairs Committee of the Saeima adopted two declarations urging the institutions of the European Union (EU) to find a solution regarding unequal distribution of EU’s direct payments to farmers and Cohesion Policy funding.
Latvia wants the European Union to shape a fair agricultural policy which would provide equal direct payments to Latvian farmers, who would then be able to compete in the common market with farmers from the so-called old EU member states on equal terms. This position was voiced by the delegation of the Saeima in Brussels during its meetings with Janusz Lewandowski, Commissioner for Financial Programming and Budget; Georg Häusler, Head of the Cabinet of the Commissioner on Agriculture and Rural Development; and members of the European Parliament.
Speaker Solvita Āboltiņa conveys condolences to Belgium (15.12.2011.)
On Wednesday, 14 December, Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, sent letters to Sabine de Bethune, President of the Belgian Senate, and André Flahaut, President of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives, offering her condolences in regard to the deadly rampage at a Christmas market in the city of Liege.
On Thursday, 8 December, the Saeima supported in principle the draft state budget in the first reading and pursuant to the Rules of Procedure of the Saeima recognised it as urgent.
On Tuesday, 29 November, the Legal Affairs Committee approved the idea to amend the Civil Law with the aim to introduce a new regulation on the legal capacity of persons.
Saeima adopts law on asset declaration (02.12.2011.)
On Thursday, 1 December, the Saeima in the final reading adopted the law on asset declaration, which requires natural persons to declare their assets.
On Thursday, 1 December, the Saeima in the final reading adopted amendments to the Criminal Law abolishing the death penalty from Latvia’s criminal justice system.
On 5 and 6 December, members of the Saeima will visit Brussels and defend Latvia’s interests regarding the next Multiannual Financial Framework of the EU. The Latvian delegation will insist on altering the unequal distribution of direct payments to farmers and will object to proposed cuts in the cohesion funding available to Latvia.
On Friday, 25 November, at its 30th Session the Baltic Assembly (BA) adopted a Resolution in which the parliamentarians of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia call for developing a fair Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) of the European Union (EU) and for no reduction of cohesion funds which would decrease opportunities to even regional development programmes and would endanger successfully launched investment programmes.