“Introduction of the euro in Latvia proceeded like clockwork, and now we must prepare for managing equally successfully Latvia’s first presidency of the Council of the European Union by involving society, including the Latvian diaspora. This is a step forward in keeping the public’s attention focused on topical EU issues even after the presidency,” stressed Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, Chairperson of the European Affairs Committee of the Saeima. On Friday, 10 January, the Committee met with EU affairs experts to discuss the accomplishments and planned future activities regarding foreign policy and EU issues before the Saeima’s annual foreign policy debate.

On Thursday, 9 January, Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, presented the Cicero Award to Carl Bildt, Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs. She addressed the prize winner and the participants of the ceremony, pointing out: “They say there are no friends in politics. Latvia’s history has proven otherwise. Sweden has granted shelter to numerous Latvian families that were forced to leave their motherland during the most severe tempests. During the Awakening, it was you, Mr. Bildt, who strongly supported the Baltic States and acted as our voice to reach out across the world”. 

At its meeting on Wednesday, 8 January, the European Affairs Committee of the Saeima received reports from the institutions responsible for introducing the euro and concluded that the changeover had proceeded like clockwork and without substantial problems.

Christmas is the time when peace and love enter our weary world. This time brings a message of a new life symbolising a brighter and purer world. The Christmas season reminds us that true values transcend worldly cares and that true values lie within ourselves – our faith, hope, love and the strengthening and uplifting moments of togetherness with our loved ones.

Taking into consideration that Latvia’s presidency of the Council of the European Union in the beginning of 2015 will be of national importance and that it will involve not only the government but also cooperation between the legislature and the executive power, on Thursday, 19 December, the political parties represented in the 11th Saeima signed an agreement on the preparation and implementation of Latvia’s presidency of the Council of the European Union.

On Wednesday, 18 December, Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, had an audience with His Holiness Pope Francis.

Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, during her official visit to Italy, met with Pietro Grasso, President of the Senate, whom she urged to deepen the economic cooperation between Latvia and Italy. Āboltiņa noted that Latvia is acceding to the euro area on 1 January 2014, which clearly attests to the country’s macroeconomic stability and its movement towards sustainable development. 

The European Affairs Committee of the Saeima deplores the decision of Ukrainian authorities not to sign the Association Agreement with the European Union at the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius. This was said in the statement on the situation in Ukraine adopted by the Committee unanimously on Friday, 13 December. In the statement, members of the Committee emphasise that Latvia as a full-fledged member state of the UN, OSCE, Council of Europe, EU and NATO that upholds the values of democracy cannot condone the actions of the Ukrainian authorities – breaking into the offices of the parliamentary opposition party – which can be viewed as a threat to parliamentarism.

On Thursday, 12 December, Ojārs Ēriks Kalniņš, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Saeima, issued a statement on the situation in Ukraine.