Members of the Foreign Affairs Committee and the European Affairs Committee of the Saeima held a joint meeting on Wednesday, 15 December, to discuss current foreign policy issues. In the meeting, MPs discussed the annual report of the Minister of Foreign Affairs on the accomplishments and planned future activities in national foreign policy and European Union matters.

“While the world continued to get on with the restrictions introduced by the COVID-19 pandemic, the foreign policy of Latvia, including its parliamentary dimension, was extraordinarily intense,” said Rihards Kols, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Saeima. “Global instability and geopolitical challenges demand from decision-makers the ability to orient themselves in the new world order and face the challenges of today. This makes collaboration between all institutions all the more crucial,” said Rihards Kols, asserting that the report of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the upcoming Saeima foreign policy debate in January are among the best examples of cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Saeima, rooted in quality discussions.

Vita Anda Tērauda, Chair of the European Affairs Committee of the Saeima, expressed her appreciation for the positive assessment of Latvia in the European Commission’s Rule of Law Report. Additionally, Tērauda highlighted the necessity to become more actively involved in discussions at the European level to ensure that the rule of law is strong among all EU member states.

“Matters of external security will continue to remain topical. Climate issues also play a crucial role in the EU policy. We must be more active in implementing the climate policy; we must prioritise the overarching climate goals set out in our foreign policy framework, but we must also implement them in the sectoral policies of Latvia,” said Vita Anda Tērauda, also commending the diaspora policy implemented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia.

Edgars Rinkēvičs, Minister of Foreign Affairs, emphasised to MPs that this year, the main issue in Latvia’s foreign policy was external security on account of the hybrid attacks near the borders of Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland, carried out by Alexander Lukashenko’s regime. Edgars Rinkēvičs also highlighted economic and Eastern Partnership issues as crucial.

According to the Rules of Procedure of the Saeima, not later than by 16 January, the Minister for Foreign Affairs should submit to the Saeima the annual report, approved by the Prime Minister, on the performance and planned future activities in foreign policy. The report also contains information on the performance and planned future activities regarding European Union matters. Unless there are proposals or requests for urgent Saeima sittings, the foreign policy debate is held at a plenary sitting closest to the Day of the International Recognition of Latvia (26 January).

Saeima Press Service