“We are counting on Congress to make the right decision and approve the assistance package to Ukraine that it so urgently needs. For the sake of standing up to tyrants and aggressors and for the sake of our collective security. Supporting Ukraine is an investment in our collective secure future,” states an open letter signed by Daiga Mieriņa, Speaker of the Saeima, Lauri Hussari, Speaker of the Riigikogu, and Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, Speaker of the Seimas.

On Friday, 19 April, the Saeima expressed confidence in Baiba Braže as Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France, unanimously approved a resolution on support for the reconstruction of Ukraine. The Assembly’s decision was taken in the presence of the President of the Ukrainian Parliament Ruslan Stefanchuk, who stressed the importance of the resolution his address to the Assembly.

With the participation of a delegation from the Saeima, on Tuesday, 16 April, in Strasbourg, France the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) elected Artūrs Kučs as a judge of the European Court of Human Rights.

In order to promote new investments, including for energy-intensive projects, the distribution system operator will cover 50% of the construction costs also for high capacity connections. This is provided for in the amendments to the Energy Law adopted by the Saeima on Thursday, 11 April, as urgent in the second reading.

“A solution is needed for achieving balance between the protection of intellectual property rights, universal access to medicines, and opportunities for different companies to produce them,” stated Edmunds Cepurītis, Chair of the Saeima European Affairs Committee, on Wednesday, 10 April.

Ukraine can count on Latvia’s unwavering support at all levels, including on the issue of Ukraine’s requisite accession to the European Union (EU). We are actively working with our EU colleagues to ensure that accession negotiations would start already in June this year, said Daiga Mieriņa, Speaker of the Saeima, on Thursday, 4 April, meeting with Denys Shmyhal, Prime Minister of Ukraine, at the Latvian parliament. The Speaker also informed that the Saeima would develop a knowledge transfer and training programme for the Ukrainian parliament administration to help promote Ukraine’s integration in the EU. 

“Today, Latvia’s membership in the strongest political and military alliance seems axiomatic. A whole generation of Latvians have enjoyed the security, defence and sense of support provided by NATO. This allows us to develop ourselves, but also allows us to help others,” Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima, highlighted on Wednesday, 27 March, opening a photo exhibition at the Saeima dedicated to the 20th anniversary of Latvia’s membership to NATO.

To prevent passengers from being defrauded when unscrupulous taxi providers charge exorbitant fares, a maximum fare will be introduced for taxi journeys from the airport or other transport infrastructure sites of international importance as well as the option of pre-payment. The Saeima approved these amendments to the Law on Carriage by Road in the third and final reading on Wednesday, 27 March.