Press releases

Lolita Čigāne, Chairperson of the European Affairs Committee, and Ojārs Ēriks Kalniņš, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, are certain that at the Eastern Partnership Summit, held in Riga on 21-22 May, the pivotal role of this Neighbourhood Policy in the European Union’s foreign policy must be reaffirmed. On Monday, 25 May, right after the Summit, the Saeima will host an inter-parliamentary meeting between members of both committees of the Saeima and parliamentarians of the Eastern Partnership countries, namely, Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Armenia and Belarus, in order to assess the results of the Summit.
Saeima to help organise benefit concert for Ukrainian children
Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, has accepted the invitation of the Latvian Rotary Club Chapter Rīdzene to become patroness of the benefit concert for Ukrainian children. Proceeds and donations from the Children of War concert on 6 July at the Dzintari Concert Hall will be used for Ukrainian children’s relief. All members of the Saeima will be invited to attend the event.  
Saeima supports the concept of the proposed Repatriation Law
On Thursday, 7 May, the Saeima endorsed the concept of the proposed Repatriation Law aimed at encouraging citizens of Latvia, as well as people of Latvian or Liv origin and their families to return to Latvia by offering them support for moving and settling in.
Speaker in Poland: Ukraine should not be left to fight alone; if we hesitate, conflict may grow
“Today we commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, and we are fully committed to prevent this brutal history from ever repeating. Europe is witnessing ongoing Russia’s warfare in Ukraine which has already taken more than 6,000 lives. Therefore, we have to learn from the past – we should not leave Ukraine fighting alone. If we hesitate too long, we risk having much bigger conflict on our hands eventually,” said Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, on Thursday, 7 May, during her working visit to Poland where she participated in a discussion on the legacy and lessons learned from World War II in the context of European integration organised by the European Solidarity Centre.
“Courage of our people and support from our allies enabled Latvia to take one of the most significant historic steps 25 years ago – to regain independence and its rightful place on the European map. Today, I extend gratitude not only to the people of Latvia but also Europe as a whole; and the European Parliament is a proper place for that,” said Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, on Wednesday, 6 May, at the European Parliament during the opening of a ceremonial event devoted to the 25th anniversary of the restoration of independence of the Republic of Latvia.
Speaker of the Saeima at the European Parliament opens a photo exhibition devoted to the 25th anniversary of the restored independence of Latvia
On Wednesday, 6 March, in the European Parliament, Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, and Mairead McGuinness, Vice President of the European Parliament, opened a photo exhibition 25 Moments… in honour of the 25th anniversary of the renewal of Latvia’s independence; the exhibition captures the most memorable events in Latvia in the period between the renewal of independence and the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, on 4 May: We demanded and took back our freedom – now it is time to strengthen it
“Even in the darkest hour people preserve the timeless values. Our escape from 50 years of oppression and stagnation attests to that. We were capable of demanding and regaining freedom. Most of the Latvian people, along with the country’s ethnic minorities, desired to restore Latvia as a democratic European nation state,” emphasised Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, on Monday, 4 May, in her address at the ceremonial sitting of the Saeima at the Latvian National Theatre in honour of the 25th anniversary of the restoration of independence of the Republic of Latvia.
Title of Future Politician of the 5th Youth Parliament Awarded
On Monday, 27 April, concluding the 5th Youth Parliament, the young people who were particularly active in sectoral committees and took the initiative in discussions on draft declarations of the Youth Parliament were awarded the title of the Future Politician. 
Speaker Mūrniece at conference: Principles of the Helsinki Process are in force even if some states choose to violate them
“For Latvia the Helsinki Accords of 1974 and the Helsinki Final Act of 1975 set historical processes in motion. The ten points in the Accords spoke about sovereign equality, respect for the rights inherent in sovereignty. They called for refraining from the threat or use of force, inviolability of frontiers and territorial integrity of states,” emphasised Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, in her address at a conference devoted to the 40th anniversary of the Helsinki Accords organised on 24 April by the Saeima and the European Movement – Latvia. 
Sestdien, 30.novembrī