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On Thursday, 5 November, Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, met with Norbert Lammert, President of the Parliament of the Federal Republic of Germany (Bundestag), in Berlin, capital of Germany. “Being aware of the migration challenges in Europe, Latvia finds it especially important to strengthen the control over the Eastern borders of the European Union (EU) and implement other measures to improve the defence efficiency. In other words, it is essential to provide efficient and permanent presence of NATO troops in our region in the long run”, she told her colleague.

Speaker and members of the Saeima thanked Germany for its notable efforts in strengthening the collective defence system. Latvia is extremely grateful to Germany for its decision to send troops to the country on rotational basis during military training and the offer to patrol the Baltic air space in scope of the NATO-led mission. Latvia is also strongly committed to do its security homework; next year’s defence budget will grow to 1.4% of the GDP. The required 2% of the GDP will be reached in 2018. 

Speaker Mūrniece also highlighted the issue of strategic communication and propaganda spread by Russian mass media. She underlined that Latvia and Germany could enhance cooperation on strategic communication and media policies, in particular. Latvian delegation thanked Mr. Lammert for posting high level German experts to NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence in Latvia. 

According to Speaker Mūrnice, Germany is Latvia’s strategic partner on many levels. Both countries are engaged in close political dialogue and practical cooperation. Parliamentary ties are also good. Whereas Ainars Latkovskis, Chair of the Saeima Defence, Internal Affairs and Corruption Prevention Committee, invited Speaker of the Bundestag to arrange a visit of the German counterparts to Latvia. 

Ināra Mūrniece also praised Mr. Lammert’s personal input in building closer relations between the Baltics and Germany. “Your visit in spring of 2014, during the celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Baltic Way, was very symbolic.

Both the Baltic countries and Germany experienced a turning point in their history with the fall of the Berlin Wall and the Baltic Way, the events that led to the collapse of the old regime. German reunification changed the future course of Europe’s history.” 

Germany is one of Latvia’s biggest trade partners and the fifth largest investor. However, there is vastly untapped potential for closer cooperation in high value added industries, and Germany’s investment in Latvia’s metalworking, IT, health and wood processing sectors.  On 4-6 November, Parliamentary delegation led by Speaker Mūrniece visited the Federal Republic of Germany. Delegation included Ainars Latkovskis, Chair of the Saeima Defence, Internal Affairs and Corruption Prevention Committee, Ojārs Ēriks Kalniņš, Chair of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee, and Lolita Čigāne, Chair of the Saeima European Affairs Committee.

Visit included a meeting of Ināra Mūrniece and the Latvian diaspora in Latvian Embassy in Germany. Speaker congratulated expatriates on Lāčplēsis Day and the 97th anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Latvia. Speaker also met with honorary consuls of Latvia in Germany.

Saeima Press Service