On Thursday, 15 March, the Saeima adopted a decision on supporting the further implementation of the Rail Baltica project. The decision urges the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia to provide all the necessary support to ensure successful implementation of the project, including compliance with the set time-frame, which is essential for maintaining the political and financial support of the EU.

On Sunday, 11 March, Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, addressed the Lithuanian Parliament at a ceremonial sitting in honour of the Day of Restoration of Independence of Lithuania. Speaker Mūrniece opened her address saying: “On behalf of Latvia, allow me to congratulate Lithuania on 11 March, the Day of Restoration of Independence!”

On Thursday, 8 March, the Saeima supported a draft decision on urging Mr Ilmārs Rimšēvičs to resign from the post of the Governor of the Bank of Latvia.

On Friday, 2 March, Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, addressed the participants of the interparliamentary conference “Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine: Eastern Partnership and Current Security Challenges” in Chisinau, Moldova, pointing out that the transatlantic community must strengthen its cooperation and work even closer with the Eastern Partnership countries to counter the Kremlin’s disinformation campaigns.

On Friday, 2 March, members of the European Affairs Committee of the Saeima convened and agreed that a timely and effective implementation of the high-speed railway project Rail Baltica depends on a clear and strong political support from all three Baltic States. Furthermore, the Committee agreed to submit a draft decision on the support for further development of the Rail Baltica project to be deliberated by the Saeima.

Consistent continuation of the reforms is the only option for Moldova to advance toward the European Union; however, the reforms are even more important for the people of Moldova, said Ināra Mūrnieces, Speaker of the Saeima, during a meeting with Adrian Candu, President of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, and Iurie Leancă, Deputy Prime Minister, in Chisinau, Moldova.

According to Inese Lībiņa-Egnere, Chair of the Saeima National Security Committee, the Committee held a meeting on Monday, 19 February, to discuss the arrest of the Governor of the Bank of Latvia Ilmārs Rimšēvičs and the current status of ABLV Bank with representatives from various relevant institutions.

On Wednesday, 14 February, Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, met with Rt. Hon. John Bercow, Speaker of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, who is on an official visit to Latvia, first Speaker-level visit since 2000. Speaker Mūrniece expressed appreciation of the United Kingdom’s contribution in strengthening the security of the Baltic States and underlined the importance of further developing close partnership in such core areas as security, defence and foreign policy.

On Thursday, 8 February, the Saeima approved the draft decision “On the proposal to introduce sanctions against the officials connected to the Sergei Magnitsky case” elaborated by the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Saeima. The decision tasks the Cabinet of Ministers with taking appropriate steps to include 49 individuals from Russia in the persona non grata list, banning them from entering the territory of the Republic of Latvia.