We cannot take the fruits of European and transatlantic cooperation for granted. For this reason, we must participate in multilateral debates on the future of Europe. It is our responsibility. The Saeima, along with other national parliaments, is willing to actively participate in the Conference on the Future of Europe. People expect tangible results from European cooperation, said Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, in her speech at the annual foreign policy debate of the Saeima on Thursday, 28 January. 

Even though it sometimes seemed the world had stopped due to the pandemic and remote work presented new challenges, Latvia’s foreign policy and its parliamentary dimension turned out to be unusually intensive last year, said Rihards Kols, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Saeima, at the annual foreign policy debate of the Saeima on Thursday, 28 January. 

On Thursday, 28 January, during the annual foreign policy debate, Vita Anda Tērauda, Chair of the European Affairs Committee, urged Latvia to protect democracy as it participates in shaping the EU foreign policy, referencing the alarming developments in Belarus and Russia. 

On January 19, in a joint statement, the Chairs of the Foreign Affairs Committees of the Baltic States condemn the detention of Aleksei Navalny by the Russian authorities, upon his return to Russia, in what is clear to be yet another attempt by the Russian authorities to silence the opposition and critical voices. As set out in the Statement, the Russian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release Mr Navalny and ensure his safety.

On Monday, 18 January, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Saeima issued a statement on the upcoming Men’s Ice Hockey World Championship, refusing to co-host the Championship together with Belarus and reaffirming Latvia’s preparedness to host the Championship in Riga, noted Rihards Kols, Chair of the Committee.

On Thursday, 7 January, the Saeima adopted in the third reading amendments to the Ombudsman Law, stipulating changes in the procedure for selecting the Ombudsman, and the term of office.

On Thursday, 7 January, the Saeima adopted in the final reading urgent amendments to the Value Added Tax Law, introducing a zero value added tax (VAT) rate to COVID-19 vaccines.

Great Britain is an important partner to Latvia, and we are very pleased that the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK) were, in a race against time, able to agree on their future relations post-Brexit, emphasised by Vita Anda Tērauda, Chair of the Saeima European Affairs Committee, on Monday, 28 December. Today, members of the Committee approved the Latvian national position on the deal on the future relations between the EU and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

On Monday, 21 December, the Saeima adopted in the final reading urgent amendments to the Law on Unemployment Insurance, extending the duration of granting and paying unemployment assistance benefits until 30 June 2021. The benefits are awarded to persons who have stopped receiving unemployment benefits but have not found a job and do not perform any economic activity. The monthly amount of the benefit is 180 euros, and a person may receive it for four months.