On Wednesday, 19 January, Members of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee and European Affairs Committee held a joint remote meeting with Aurélie Royet-Gounin, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic to the Republic of Latvia, to discuss the priorities of the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU).

“This year, we will celebrate the events that formed the foundation of our statehood. This foundation was laid by our predecessors a century ago, and it continues to provide Latvia with strength, independence, and the capacity to grow,” said Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, in the opening event of the centenary year of the Saeima on Tuesday, 18 January.

The Foreign Affairs Committee of the Saeima considers unacceptable the increasing presence of the armed forces of the Russian Federation near Ukraine's borders and in the occupied Crimean Peninsula since the beginning of 2021, as well as the increased militarisation of the Black Sea and Sea of Azov regions, according to the Statement of the Committee on the security situation in Europe, adopted on Tuesday, 11 January.

On Tuesday, 11 January, the Saeima approved amendments to the Cabinet Order Regarding Declaration of the Emergency Situation that set out, inter alia, to extend the state of emergency until 28 February throughout the entire territory of Latvia.

“We have lived behind the Iron Curtain, isolated from the rest of Europe, and we are painfully aware of the need for unity of the democratic world in the situation caused by the current Russian regime. The democratic lifestyle, with all of its advantages, has demonstrated superiority, and protecting it is the interest of the entire Western world”, stated Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, on Tuesday, 11 January, while remotely attending the annual meeting of the heads of the diplomatic missions of Latvia.

During this heating season, more households will be eligible for receiving an allowance to cover housing expenses. This is stipulated by the amendments to the Law on the Suppression of Consequences of the Spread of COVID-19 Infection, approved in the final reading by the Saeima on Wednesday, 22 December.

On Wednesday, 22 December, the Saeima supported in the final reading urgent amendments to the Law on Pollution that stipulate compensating 50% of electricity system costs to all users.

Upon presentation of an interoperable COVID-19 certificate, it will also be possible to present a driver’s licence as well as a school card, student’s card, old-age retirement or early retirement pensioner’s card to establish the identity of the holder. This is outlined in the amendment, recognised as urgent, to the Law on the Management of the Spread of COVID-19 Infection, approved by the Saeima in the final reading on Thursday, 16 December.

On Thursday, December 16, in the third reading, the Saeima supported amendments to the Law on the Protection of the Children’s Rights, which provide for changes in the regulation on the adoption of children abroad.