On Wednesday, 13 March, Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, met with Jean Asselborn, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg, and thanked him for Luxembourg’s support regarding Latvia’s membership in the OECD.

Āboltiņa stressed that joining this international organisation is crucial for ensuring Latvia’s further economic growth and raising the quality of life for its people. She also emphasised Latvia’s experience in overcoming the economic crisis and expressed readiness to share this experience with other countries.

The Speaker of the Saeima and the Luxembourgian Minister for Foreign Affairs also discussed Latvia’s first presidency of the Council of the European Union and the planned close cooperation between the parliaments of both countries.
 
When discussing the future of the EU, Āboltiņa pointed out: “We all are interested in having a stable European Union, which is currently facing major changes. Its development critically depends on full integration of all member states by trying to avoid formation of a multi-speed or fragmented European Union”.
 
With regard to current developments in foreign policy, the Speaker said that one of Latvia’s priorities is the Eastern Partnership: “It is important to achieve progress in relations with countries such as Moldova or Georgia in order to strengthen democracy and further implementation of reforms in these countries.” Āboltiņa noted that Latvia uses the regional framework for enhancing communication between the EU’s eastern neighbours and Europe, as well as for assisting them in their reforms.
 
Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, is on an official visit to Luxembourg from 11 to 13 March upon the invitation of Laurent Mosar, Speaker of the parliament of Luxembourg.

Saeima Press Service