“Despite the geographical distance, Latvia and Japan have a long history of cooperation, and successful political dialogue is a good foundation for further economic cooperation, as well as joint cultural and educational projects,” said Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, during her meeting in the Main Building of the Saeima with Masaaki Yamazaki, President of the House of Councillors of the National Diet of Japan, who is on an official visit to Latvia. 

“Latvia previously promised Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova that it would be among the first member states of the European Union to ratify the association agreements with these countries. Therefore, I am gratified that today the Saeima unanimously supported the ratification of all three association agreements, thus fulfilling our promise and expressing our country’s political support  for these Eastern Partnership countries,” said Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, on Monday, 14 July, after the ratification of the European Union (EU) association agreements with Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova. 

On Monday, 14 July, the Saeima in an extraordinary sitting adopted and approved the Association Agreements between the European Union (EU) and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, of the other part.

“The crisis in Ukraine, relations with Russia, preparations for the Latvian presidency of the Council of the European Union at the beginning of next year and the NATO Summit in Great Britain have been the main topics for the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Saeima during the spring session of parliament,” recounted Ojārs Ēriks Kalniņš, Chairman of the Committee.

When looking back at the spring session of the Saeima, Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, Chairperson of the European Affairs Committee, indicated: “During the spring session, the European Affairs Committee focused on issues such as the situation in Ukraine, the 10th anniversary of Latvia’s membership in the European Union, and youth employment in Europe.”

On 19 June, the Saeima, with 69 parliamentarians voting in favour and 28 voting against, adopted amendments to the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia (Satversme) in the final reading. The Constitution was supplemented with an introduction revealing its very purpose and essence.

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.

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.