MPs of the Baltic States believe that dialogue with all Eastern Partnership countries should be maintained and that new ways should be sought to support their EU aspirations. Ojārs Ēriks Kalniņš, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Saeima, reported that the Eastern Partnership was among the key issues discussed during the annual meeting of members of the foreign affairs committees of the Baltic parliaments held on Friday, 13 June.
Press releases
European Affairs Committee: EU trade agreements with the U.S. and Canada must be ratified by national parliaments (12.06.2014.)
On Thursday, June 12, the European Affairs Committee of the Saeima concluded that because the trade agreements negotiated by the European Union with the United States and Canada cover areas that fall under the shared competences of the EU and its member states, these agreements have to be ratified also by the national parliaments of the EU. Therefore, the Committee authorised its Chairperson to sign a letter from the national parliaments addressed to the European Commission urging it to increase the legitimacy of the agreements through their ratification by member states.
On Thursday, 12 June, the Saeima supported in the second reading amendments to the Law on Procedures for the Legal Trade of Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances and Medicinal Products. The amendments are aimed at combating the use of psychoactive herbal mixtures, or the so-called “spice mixes”. According to the new wording of the Law, substances that have not been included in the list of narcotic substances but may be equally damaging to a person’s health will be defined as the new psychoactive substances subject to a sales prohibition in Latvia.
The right of non-smokers to breathe clean, untainted air and not be exposed to increased health risks should be given higher priority compared to smokers’ interests. On Thursday, 12 June, the Saeima adopted, in the second reading, a new legislative proposal restricting the sale, advertising and use of tobacco products. MPs voted in favour of a number of proposed measures tightening the anti-smoking rules and restricting the sale of tobacco products, including increasing the minimum age to buy cigarettes to 21.
European Affairs Committee congratulates Lithuania on readiness to introduce the euro next year (04.06.2014.)
Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, Chairperson of the European Affairs Committee of the Saeima, congratulated Latvia’s neighbour Lithuania on achieving compliance with the Maastricht criteria as announced by the European Commission on Wednesday, 4 June; that constitutes official permission to begin introduction of the euro.
On Thursday, 29 May, when assessing Valdis Dombrovskis as a possible candidate from Latvia to the new composition of the European Commission, Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, Chairperson of the European Affairs Committee, stressed: “Latvia has gained a lot from the European Union in terms of investments, foreign support and security. Now it is our turn to contribute to the work of the European Union in the best way possible by nominating the most professional candidate for the post of European commissioner. Valdis Dombrovskis, who held the office of Prime Minister from 2009 to 2013, guided Latvia through the financial and economic crisis and accession to the euro area, and that attests to his expertise and skills.”
On Tuesday, 27 May, when meeting with Zhang Dejiang, Speaker of the National People’s Congress, during her official visit to China, Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, emphasised that active political dialogue and regular bilateral high-level visits between Latvia and China are the foundation for dynamic relations between the two countries, which are characterised by mutual trust and respect.
Speaker of the Saeima to the Chinese Premier: Latvia looks forward to attracting more Chinese investments (27.05.2014.)
On Tuesday, 27 May, as a part of her official visit to China, Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, met with Li Keqiang, Premier of the People’s Republic of China. She stressed that “Latvia looks forward to attracting Chinese investments, especially in the areas where China excels on the global scale in terms of both skills and technologies. Besides, Latvia has created an investment-friendly environment, which also includes the main seaports and the special economic zones”.
On Wednesday, 21 May, the steering committee for planning the parliamentary dimension of the Latvian presidency of the Council of the European Union approved parliamentary meetings and conferences to be held during Latvia’s presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2015.
Āboltiņa at the NGO forum: We are an active, thinking and responsible society that can achieve its goals (19.05.2014.)
The dialogue between society and the state is a path leading to the achievement of jointly set goals. These goals can be reached in the shortest possible period only if we, as an active, thinking and responsible society, join our efforts, said Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, on Monday, 19 May, at the opening of the 8th Saeima and NGO forum on Involvement, Sustainability, Innovations.