“We, representatives of the European Union national parliaments, have to support the democratisation efforts of Eastern Partnership countries and share our experience with our colleagues. For the European Union to be strong, safe and secure, we have to recognise how important all our neighbours are, whether they are to the south or the east,” said Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, on Monday, 7 April, at the Conference of the Speakers of the Parliaments of the European Union held in Vilnius, Lithuania. 

From 4 till 6 April, Latvia will host a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly (PA) of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). The meeting will bring together the heads of national parliamentary delegations of NATO member states to discuss, among other issues, strengthening ties between national parliaments and NATO.

On Thursday, 3 April, the Saeima in two readings adopted urgent amendments to the Criminal Law. The amendments elaborated by the Legal Affairs Committee of the Saeima provide for criminal liability for failure to comply with the provisional prohibition to sell the so-called legal drugs. 

On Monday, 31 March, Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, during her official visit to Georgia, met with David Usupashvili, Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia, and emphasised that Latvia supports the signing of the Association Agreement between the European Union and Georgia as early as possible in 2014 because it would clearly signal the determination of both sides to deepen their relations on the basis of European and democratic values.

On Friday, 28 March, during the first-day cancellation ceremony for postage stamps dedicated to the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Latvia and Georgia held at the main building of the Saeima, Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, said that this postage stamp attests to friendship and good relations between our nations.

On Thursday, 27 March, the Saeima supported in principle amendments that will establish a new approach to combating psychoactive herbal mixtures and synthetic narcotic substances, thus putting an end to the principle that anything that is not explicitly forbidden is allowed.

On Thursday, 27 March, the Saeima supported, in substance, amendments to the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia which would add an introduction, or preamble, to the text. In the first reading, the Draft Law was supported by 67 MPs, while 27 MPs voted against it.

On Wednesday, 26 March, Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, met with King Carl XVI Gustaf of the Kingdom of Sweden, who paid a call to the main building of the Saeima during his state visit to the Republic of Latvia. “Our histories have been linked for centuries – the ones of our countries and the ones of our people. It is a history of cooperation, support, respect and friendship. The Swedish presence in Latvia can be felt at every step when we walk on the cobblestones to the Swedish Gate, which is just one hundred meters from here. We are also delighted that since last autumn, young audiences in Latvia have been able to live through all sorts of famous and exciting adventures of Karlsson-on-the-Roof in the ballet performance staged at the Latvian National Opera,” pointed out the Speaker.

On Monday, 24 March, Jānis Vucāns, Chairman of the Latvian delegation to the Baltic Assembly, met with Karin Åström, President of the Nordic Council, and Hans Wallmark, Vice President of the Nordic Council. In discussing the situation in Ukraine, Jānis Vucāns noted that since the Eastern Partnership is one of Latvia’s foreign policy priorities, it is logical for our state to be ready to continue sharing its experience with Ukraine in implementing reforms and strengthening democracy, as well as supporting Ukraine in these efforts. This commitment is essential particularly now, when Ukraine needs support in maintaining its sovereignty and territorial integrity, strengthening national unity and stabilising the overall situation in the state.