“The crisis caused by the pandemic is yet another opportunity for the Baltic states to look for ways to cooperate more closely and tackle this common global challenge. We must work together to recover from the COVID‑19 crisis as soon as possible and to achieve long‑term growth in the region,” said Dagmāra Beitnere‑Le Galla, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima, on Friday, 5 November, in her opening address at the 40th Session of the Baltic Assembly in Vilnius, capital of Lithuania.

During the official ceremony in Vilnius, capital of Lithuania, art historian Ginta Gerharde-Upeniece was awarded the Baltic Assembly (BA) Prize for the Arts for organising the international exhibition series Wild Souls. Symbolism in the Art of the Baltic States.

On Thursday, 4 November, the Saeima adopted in the second and final reading the urgent amendments to the Law on the Management of the Spread of COVID‑19 Infection. The amendments provide for a legal framework for employment relationships for cases when a certificate of COVID‑19 vaccination or recovery is necessary to perform work.

According to the amendments adopted on Thursday, 4 November, persons who have contracted COVID‑19 or who have to quarantine at home and who have been issued an interoperable certificate of vaccination or recovery will be eligible for paid sick leave from the first day of the incapacity for work.

Georgia is an important cooperation partner of Latvia. We continue to stand firm in our support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the Euro-Atlantic integration efforts of Georgia. Taking this path requires fierce determination of the parliament and the government to implement democratic reforms, said Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, during her meeting with Kakhaber Kuchava, Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia, in Athens, Greece on Friday, 22 October.

We applaud the determination of the newly-elected Parliament and the government of Moldova to implement a large-scale programme of democratic reforms. Latvia firmly supports deeper integration of Moldova in the European Union (EU). We are prepared to strengthen bilateral cooperation with Moldova, as well promote the relations between the EU and Moldova, reaffirmed Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, in her meeting with Igor Grosu, Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova.

The COVID-19 crisis has illuminated the weak spots in our societies. It has exposed how vulnerable democracy and our societies are. We should stand together to defend our democratic values, said Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, in her address at the European Conference of Presidents of Parliament in Athens.

On Friday, 22 October the Saeima approved additional restrictions defined by the government to fight the rapid spread of COVID-19. These restrictions include an obligation for all persons to stay at their place of residence from 8 PM to 5 AM until 14 November.

On 20 October, Members of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Saeima met with the delegation of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Parliament of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to discuss opportunities of strengthening parliamentary cooperation.

With deep sadness, we announce the passing of the Member of Saeima, long-time diplomat and politician Mr Ojārs Ēriks Kalniņš.