On 11 December 2009, the Saeima members at a workshop with NGO representatives focussed on new opportunities for EU citizens to participate in the EU decision-making process and invited inhabitants to actively use this new opportunity provided by the Treaty of Lisbon and propose new legislative initiatives.

At the opening of the workshop, Gundars Daudze, Speaker of the Saeima, stated: „The Lisbon Treaty provides not only national parliaments but also the citizens of member states with a new opportunity to affect EU policies. Successful using of this opportunity will depend on us ourselves, on our active involvement in these processes. It is of utmost importance to inform the citizens of Latvia of their right of legislative initiative, and therefore we have invited NGO representatives to this discussion at the Saeima.”

Solvita Āboltiņa, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima, also emphasised the need for active involvement in the EU decision-making process since the EU legal acts affect the daily life of every citizen. „ Once EU regulations and directives enter into force, they directly affect our daily routine,” noted Solvita Āboltiņa.

The Treaty of Lisbon gives one million EU citizens representing several member states the opportunity to call on the European Commission to draft EU legal acts in policy areas which are within the EU’s competence. In order to discover the view points of EU citizens about the practical aspects of introducing this new initiative, the European Commission has launched a consultation campaign and has asked EU citizens to express their opinions by 31 January 2010.

On 11 December 2009, the Saeima, in conjunction with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Centre for Public Policy Providus, held a workshop regarding this EU citizens’ initiative; it was attended by representatives from more than 20 NGOs. 

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