It will be easier for citizens to refinance mortgages. A simplified transition to another lender was prescribed by the Saeima, on Thursday, 15 February, in the final reading of the amendments to three laws.

“Right now it is extremely important to place pressure on Russia at a global scale. We need to be sure that our partners understand how Russia is continuing to wage war against civilians, children and the national identity of Ukrainians,” Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima and Head of the Latvian Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), said at the international conference Russia’s War on Children.

According to the amendments to the Sports Law adopted by the Saeima on Thursday, 1 February, Latvian national teams representing team sports will not be allowed to play against Russian and Belarusian national teams. The ban will also apply if athletes from these countries participate in competitions in neutral status.

We no longer have any illusions about Russia. The aggressor has adjusted its economy for a protracted war and spends more than a third of its budget on its military. We must not underestimate the adversary, Russia is constantly changing tactics in the battlefield and learning quickly. Western allies need to be aware that Russia will not stop at Ukraine unless we stop it. This was emphasised by the Speaker of the Saeima Daiga Mieriņa during her visit to Washington D.C. to meet U.S. legislators.

The United States have an indispensable role in the security of Europe. Today, global security is based on a strong partnership between the U.S. and Europe, stressed Daiga Mieriņa, Speaker of the Saeima, meeting with Mike Johnson, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and other U.S. lawmakers in Washington, D.C.  Mieriņa is visiting the U.S. together with Lauri Hussar, Speaker of the Estonian Riigikogu, and Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, Speaker of the Lithuanian Seimas. When meeting with the Baltic Speakers, Johnson reaffirmed the U.S. strategic partnership with the Baltic States. 

On Wednesday, 31 January, members of the Foreign Affairs Committee and the European Affairs Committee of the Saeima held a joint meeting with Mariia Mezentseva and Olena Khomenko, parliamentarians representing the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, to deliberate on the current situation in Ukraine and the return of Ukrainian children kidnapped by Russia. 

The interests of children are the priority, and it is the task of us—the international community—to do everything in our power to ensure that every Ukrainian child kidnapped by Russia returns home safely to their family, asserted Zanda Kalniņa‑Lukaševica, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima and Head of the Latvian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), on Wednesday, 31 January, at the international conference "Kidnapped by Russia" held at the National Library of Latvia. 

Canada's decision to bolster its military presence in Latvia is an outstanding example of unity and solidarity among NATO allies. It is an important contribution not only to the security of the Baltic States, but to the security of Europe as a whole. It sends a clear message to Russia that NATO is determined to defend every inch of its territory, Daiga Mieriņa, Speaker of the Saeima, emphasised during a meeting with Greg Fergus, Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada, in Ottawa.

In parallel with strengthening NATO’s presence, our foreign policy prioritises a faster Ukraine’s victory and containment of Russia’s aggression. Today, the defence of the entire Europe begins on Ukrainian-Russian front line. Loud and clear. On Thursday, 25 January, this was emphasised by the Speaker of the Saeima Daiga Mieriņa in the annual foreign policy debate of the Saeima.

At the moment, every foreign policy issue is affected by the threat posed by Russia to European values, and the main goal is to ensure Ukraine’s victory and loss of Russia as soon as possible, said Edmunds Cepurītis, Chair of the European Affairs Committee of the Saeima, during the annual foreign policy debate held on Thursday, 25 January.