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For the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Saeima, the winter session’s central event was the annual foreign policy debate held in the Saeima. The Committee also devoted a lot of time to preparing the draft law on the ratification of the Revised European Social Charter. This was emphasised by Ojārs Kalniņš, Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee, when evaluating the Committee’s work during the winter session.    

Regarding the debate on Latvia’s foreign policy issues, Kalniņš pointed out that the European Union (EU) matters dominated this year’s agenda.  The Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee assessed this year’s debates positively but stressed that the process of preparing the Foreign Ministry’s report could be changed next year by involving the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Saeima more deeply. “In future the Foreign Ministry’s report could be discussed in the Foreign Affairs Committee before it is adopted by the government. This will give the Committee a chance to be more actively involved in preparing the report prior to the debate in the Saeima,” Kalniņš explained.

In preparing for the foreign policy debate, the Foreign Affairs Committee held several meetings with foreign affairs experts to consider the report and to discuss whether Latvia needs a long-term foreign policy strategy.

Kalniņš mentioned the ratification of the Revised European Social Charter in the Saeima as another significant achievement during the winter session. “This issue was raised in the two previous convocations of the Saeima; however, the work was finished only now. This indicates significant progress in improving legislation,” the Chairperson of the Committee emphasised and went on to explain that by ratifying the Revised Charter, Latvia has pledged to safeguard the rights listed in the Charter not only of all Latvian citizens but also of the 200 million citizens of other signatory countries.

During the winter session, the Foreign Affairs Committee also focused on other important issues, such as the situation in Northern Africa, the Middle East and Georgia. “Georgia is a development cooperation partner; therefore, as a member of the EU and NATO, Latvia has always supported Georgia in its striving to join them,” Kalniņš said and expressed hope that Georgia’s new government and parliament will continue the previously set political course. The Chairperson of the Committee also pointed out that the situation in Georgia will continue to be of interest not only to Latvia but also to the EU and NATO. 

The Chairperson of the Committee emphasised that bilateral relations with China will become an increasingly significant issue on the EU agenda, and he also pointed out that in its latest session the NATO Parliamentary Assembly discussed the issue of further developing bilateral relations between NATO and China in order to facilitate communication.

In the spring session, the Foreign Affairs Committee will continue to focus on the EU’s foreign policy vision. “The Swedish and Polish Ministers of Foreign Affairs are leading the project which aims to elaborate Europe’s global strategy for the future. I have participated in discussions in Brussels on what is necessary for the EU to be able to agree on a common foreign policy vision and how to improve the work of the EU External Action Service so that it better serves the interests of the EU,” Kalniņš emphasised.


Video from the meeting is available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjNGZroW-Tg 
When using the material, please give credit to the Saeima Chancellery


Saeima Press Service