Press releases

The Saeima adopts the state budget for 2014
The Saeima adopts the state budget for 2014 (08.11.2013.)
On Thursday, 7 November, the Saeima adopted in the final reading the Law on the State Budget for 2014, the Law on Medium-Term Budget Framework for 2014–2016 and amendments to 37 budget-related laws.
Āboltiņa: Latvia and Georgia’s good relations stem from intensive political dialogue and active people-to-people contacts
Āboltiņa: Latvia and Georgia’s good relations stem from intensive political dialogue and active people-to-people contacts (06.11.2013.)
“Latvia and Georgia’s good relations stem from intensive political dialogue and active contacts between the people of both countries. As a member state of the European Union and NATO, Latvia has always encouraged Georgia to carry out reforms, and Georgia can continue to rely on our support,” this was stressed by Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, on Monday, 4 November, as she met in the main building of the Saeima with David Usupashvili, Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia.
Saeima restricts issuance of residence permits
Saeima restricts issuance of residence permits (01.11.2013.)
On Thursday, 31 October, the Saeima adopted in the final reading urgent amendments to the Immigration Law in order to introduce quotas for issuing residence permits to real estate buyers and prevent foreigners from obtaining residence permits in exchange for purchase of real estate containing agricultural land or forest.
Simplified voting procedure in European Parliament elections to be established for soldiers and national guards stationed abroad
Simplified voting procedure in European Parliament elections to be established for soldiers and national guards stationed abroad (01.11.2013.)
On Thursday, 31 October, the Saeima adopted in the final reading amendments to the Elections to the European Parliament Law, thus simplifying the voting procedure for soldiers and national guards serving on international missions.
Kalniņa-Lukaševica at COSAC meeting: The EU has high expectations from Eastern Partnership Summit
Kalniņa-Lukaševica at COSAC meeting: The EU has high expectations from Eastern Partnership Summit (30.10.2013.)
During the Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs of Parliaments of the European Union (COSAC) held in Vilnius, Lithuania, on Monday, 28 October, Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, Chairperson of the European Affairs Committee of the Saeima, emphasised that the European Union (EU) member states, including Latvia, have high expectations from the forthcoming Eastern Partnership Summit, and they hope it will be a turning point in the relations between the EU and its eastern neighbours.
Speaker Āboltiņa: The legislature can enhance the understanding of the goal and essence of the state of Latvia in order to strengthen the values laid in its foundation
Speaker Āboltiņa: The legislature can enhance the understanding of the goal and essence of the state of Latvia in order to strengthen the values laid in its foundation (28.10.2013.)
“Although it is not an easy task to guess the legal beliefs and views of the people and to put them down in the form of legal provisions contained in the supreme law, the founding fathers of our Constitution managed to do that successfully. However, the drafters of the Constitution failed to agree upon an expanded and more detailed introduction – or the preamble as we now call it – to this law.” This was pointed out by Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, at the opening of the conference on Reflection of the Foundation of the Latvian State in the Expanded Preamble of the Constitution – Concept and Tentative Content held on 25 October in the University of Latvia.
Saeima delegation meets Armenian MPs in Erevan (23.10.2013.)
Latvia and Armenia have active parliamentary cooperation. This is confirmed by the fact that the parliaments of both countries have established groups for interparliamentary relations with the other country, by successful exchange of high-level visits, including the official visit of Hovik Abrahamyan, President of the National Assembly, in June of this year, as well as by study visits of Armenian MPs and parliamentary staff members to the Saeima. This was stated by Inese Lībiņa-Egnere, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima, on Wednesday, 23 October, when she met with representatives of the Armenia–Latvia friendship group of the National Assembly of Armenia during her working visit to Armenia.
Delegation of the Saeima during a meeting with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Armenia emphasises the untapped potential of economic cooperation (22.10.2013.)
On Tuesday, 22 October, during their meeting in Erevan with Edward Nalbandian, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, the members of the delegation of the Saeima noted that Latvia and Armenia have a sound and constructive political dialogue, as well as active cooperation in several areas; however, there is a great untapped cooperation potential in economics, culture and education.
Lībiņa-Egnere to President of Armenian parliament: Latvia is interested in furthering comprehensive relations with Armenia
Lībiņa-Egnere to President of Armenian parliament: Latvia is interested in furthering comprehensive relations with Armenia (22.10.2013.)
Cooperation between Latvia and Armenia has been developing dynamically, and Latvia is interested in shaping close and comprehensive relations between the two countries in politics and economy. This was stated by Inese Lībiņa-Egnere, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima, when she met with Hovik Abrahamyan, President of the National Assembly of Armenia, during her working visit to Armenia.
Speaker of the Saeima signs book of condolence at Belgian embassy
Speaker of the Saeima signs book of condolence at Belgian embassy (18.10.2013.)
On Friday, 18 October, Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, signed the book of condolence at the Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium in Riga in memory of Wilfried Martens, former Prime Minister of Belgium.
Piektdien, 1.novembrī
08:30  Saeimas Sociālo un darba lietu komisijas sadarbībā ar Rīgas Stradiņa universitāti rīkotā konference “Nākotnes veselības ekonomika: efektivitāte un ilgtspēja”
09:00  Eiropas lietu komisijas sēde