“Latvia previously promised Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova that it would be among the first member states of the European Union to ratify the association agreements with these countries. Therefore, I am gratified that today the Saeima unanimously supported the ratification of all three association agreements, thus fulfilling our promise and expressing our country’s political support for these Eastern Partnership countries,” said Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, on Monday, 14 July, after the ratification of the European Union (EU) association agreements with Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova.
Press releases
On Monday, 14 July, the Saeima in an extraordinary sitting adopted and approved the Association Agreements between the European Union (EU) and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, of the other part.
Crisis in Ukraine the central topic of the Foreign Affairs Committee during the spring session (30.06.2014.)
“The crisis in Ukraine, relations with Russia, preparations for the Latvian presidency of the Council of the European Union at the beginning of next year and the NATO Summit in Great Britain have been the main topics for the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Saeima during the spring session of parliament,” recounted Ojārs Ēriks Kalniņš, Chairman of the Committee.
When looking back at the spring session of the Saeima, Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, Chairperson of the European Affairs Committee, indicated: “During the spring session, the European Affairs Committee focused on issues such as the situation in Ukraine, the 10th anniversary of Latvia’s membership in the European Union, and youth employment in Europe.”
Saeima expands the Constitution with a preamble (20.06.2014.)
On 19 June, the Saeima, with 69 parliamentarians voting in favour and 28 voting against, adopted amendments to the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia (Satversme) in the final reading. The Constitution was supplemented with an introduction revealing its very purpose and essence.
MPs of the Baltic States believe that dialogue with all Eastern Partnership countries should be maintained and that new ways should be sought to support their EU aspirations. Ojārs Ēriks Kalniņš, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Saeima, reported that the Eastern Partnership was among the key issues discussed during the annual meeting of members of the foreign affairs committees of the Baltic parliaments held on Friday, 13 June.
European Affairs Committee: EU trade agreements with the U.S. and Canada must be ratified by national parliaments (12.06.2014.)
On Thursday, June 12, the European Affairs Committee of the Saeima concluded that because the trade agreements negotiated by the European Union with the United States and Canada cover areas that fall under the shared competences of the EU and its member states, these agreements have to be ratified also by the national parliaments of the EU. Therefore, the Committee authorised its Chairperson to sign a letter from the national parliaments addressed to the European Commission urging it to increase the legitimacy of the agreements through their ratification by member states.
On Thursday, 12 June, the Saeima supported in the second reading amendments to the Law on Procedures for the Legal Trade of Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances and Medicinal Products. The amendments are aimed at combating the use of psychoactive herbal mixtures, or the so-called “spice mixes”. According to the new wording of the Law, substances that have not been included in the list of narcotic substances but may be equally damaging to a person’s health will be defined as the new psychoactive substances subject to a sales prohibition in Latvia.
The right of non-smokers to breathe clean, untainted air and not be exposed to increased health risks should be given higher priority compared to smokers’ interests. On Thursday, 12 June, the Saeima adopted, in the second reading, a new legislative proposal restricting the sale, advertising and use of tobacco products. MPs voted in favour of a number of proposed measures tightening the anti-smoking rules and restricting the sale of tobacco products, including increasing the minimum age to buy cigarettes to 21.
European Affairs Committee congratulates Lithuania on readiness to introduce the euro next year (04.06.2014.)
Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, Chairperson of the European Affairs Committee of the Saeima, congratulated Latvia’s neighbour Lithuania on achieving compliance with the Maastricht criteria as announced by the European Commission on Wednesday, 4 June; that constitutes official permission to begin introduction of the euro.