On Monday, 23 May, Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, addressed the Conference of the Speakers of the Parliaments of the European Union in Luxembourg. At the session devoted to strengthening the EU, Speaker Mūrniece stated that the challenges arising from migration, growing social inequality and the financial and economic situation can only be overcome by a joint effort, and that the European Union is founded on cooperation and solidarity among sovereign states.

The Speaker of the Saeima emphasised the wide range of advantages that the EU provides for its member states and citizens, and expressed appreciation for the fact that the EU, which is based on the collaboration of free, equal and sovereign states, enjoys broad popular support in Latvia. Speaker Mūrniece stated that it is in the interests of all EU citizens to have a Union where member states work closely together to find effective solutions.

Current global challenges have rekindled debates over the future of the European Union, the Speaker of the Saeima said. Latvia believes that each step in the further development of the EU must be examined individually, i.e. national parliaments must exercise their rights bestowed upon them in the Lisbon Treaty in order to assess the compliance of all legislative initiatives to the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality, Speaker Mūrniece stated.

Until 24 May the Speaker of the Saeima is on a working visit in Luxembourg where she is attending the Conference of the Speakers of the Parliaments of the European Union.

Saeima Press Service