On Friday, 16 March, the European Affairs Committee of the Saeima expressed its support for the initiative of Latvian ministers to consider at various meetings of the Council of the European Union (EU) the issue of Russia’s ban on importing live cattle and pigs from the EU, a move that will have a negative impact on our farmers.

MPs approved today Latvia’s national position on this issue for the Agriculture and Fisheries Council of the EU scheduled to meet on 19 and 20 March. It is on Latvia’s initiative that the item on Russia’s ban on importing live pigs was included on the agenda of the meeting of the EU agriculture ministers. On the initiative of our state, this topic was also addressed during the Foreign Affairs Council of the EU that discusses trade issues.

“The ban on imports of cattle and pigs which was introduced by Russia in the beginning of March will negatively influence the agricultural sector of our state because among the EU member states Latvia is one of the largest pig exporters to Russia,” indicates Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, Chairperson of the European Affairs Committee.

“Therefore, it is gratifying that today this issue is being discussed in Brussels by Daniels Pavļuts, Minister for Economics and that next week it will be addressed by Laimdota Straujuma, Minister for Agriculture. Latvia should draw the attention of other EU member states and the European Commission to this matter in order to ensure that this issue is addressed on the political level alongside with active discussions between the experts of the EU and Russia,” emphasises the Chairperson.

During today’s meeting, MPs found out that at the upcoming Agriculture and Fisheries Council of EU, Latvia will declare that Russia’s ban on imports of pigs from EU member states is unjustified and unreasonable. Latvia will request the European Commission, which is leading the negotiations with Russia on this matter, to provide all necessary guarantees and information to Russia.

Saeima Press Service