On Thursday, 9 May, the Saeima in the final reading adopted amendments to the Citizenship Law that recognise dual citizenship, set forth the procedure for granting citizenship to children born in Latvia to non-citizens and to children born abroad to Latvian citizens, as well as introduce changes in the naturalisation procedure.
Press releases
Ašeradens in Dublin: Latvia sees the European Youth Guarantee as a tool for reducing migration (03.05.2013.)
The European Youth Guarantee is more than just a significant tool for curbing unemployment; it is also an opportunity to significantly reduce migration caused by the high level of youth unemployment, said Arvils Ašeradens, Deputy Chairman of the Social and Employment Matters Committee, at a meeting of chairpersons of employment, enterprise, innovation and social affairs committees of the national parliaments of the European Union held in Dublin on Monday, 29 April.
Should health education or politics and law be taught at school as separate mandatory subjects? How to strengthen the feeling among Latvian children and youths currently living abroad that they belong in Latvia? Should the state develop special support programmes for youth enterprises? Should information about advantages and risks related to introduction of the single European currency be disseminated also at schools? These were only some of the questions addressed by the 3rd Youth Parliament on 26 April.
At the Conference of the Speakers of the EU Parliaments, Solvita Āboltiņa emphasises the role of dialogue with society (23.04.2013.)
“By using modern tools of communication and efficiently channelling information, parliaments can develop a continuous, open and honest dialogue with society more easily. Social networks and live broadcasts of plenary sittings are needed; however, it is not enough. I am certain that it is important to have direct contact with people, to hear society’s voice, opinions and attitudes towards local and global events,” emphasised Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, on Monday, 22 April, when addressing other Speakers of the Parliaments of the European Union at their annual Conference.
On Friday, 12 April, Vjačeslavs Dombrovskis, Chairman of the Economic, Agricultural, Environmental and Regional Policy Committee of the Saeima; Saulius Bucevičius, Chairman of the Committee on Rural Affairs of the Seimas; and Kalvi Kõva, Chairman of the Rural Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu, signed a declaration on the joint position of the Baltic States regarding reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) of the European Union.
USSR symbolism to be banned during festive events too (11.04.2013.)
On Thursday, 11 April, the Saeima supported in principle the Draft Law on the Amendments to the Law on Safety during Public Entertainment and Festive Events. The amendments will ban the use of flags, coats of arms, anthems and other symbols, including stylised ones, of the USSR, Latvian SSR and Nazi Germany also during public entertainment and festive events.
On behalf of the Latvian parliament, Speaker Solvita Āboltiņa sent a letter to the Speaker of the House of Lords and the Speaker of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland expressing condolences on the passing away of Margaret Thatcher.
Saeima extends the tax relief period applicable in free ports and special economic zones (04.04.2013.)
On Thursday, 4 April, the Saeima adopted in the final reading amendments to the Law on Application of Taxes in Free Ports and Special Economic Zones. Amendments stipulate that licenced capital companies and free port administrations are entitled to direct tax relief until 31 December 2035.
On Wednesday, 3 April, the Mandate, Ethics and Submissions Committee agreed to support and forward for plenary review the draft decision which would task the Ministry of Justice with elaborating and submitting to the Saeima the Draft Law on Responsibility for Breaking the Oath of a Member of the Saeima.