It is important to strengthen the sense of belonging to Western policies and values among the Eastern neighbours of the European Union; therefore, an active dialogue with countries across the Eastern border of the EU should be continued, stated Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, on Friday, 16 August, when addressing Nordic and Baltic colleagues at the annual meeting of the parliamentary speakers of the Nordic Countries and Baltic States (NB8).   

Local governments that are well-informed about the social problems of a specific area are irreplaceable partners for the national government, and without their help the state cannot fulfil all of its tasks; therefore, development of effective dialogue with local governments is a matter of honour and prestige of national policy. This was expressed by Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, on Friday, 9 August, in her address to the 24th Congress of the Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments.

“The Jewish community has become a vibrant and integral part of Latvian society. It is very important for people of all ethnicities to feel comfortable in Latvia and to maintain their culture and traditions whilst still remaining loyal to Latvia’s statehood and independence,” Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, said on Tuesday, 30 July, when meeting in the Saeima with Shimon Peres, President of Israel, who is on an official visit to Latvia. During the meeting, the Speaker of the Saeima pointed out that Latvia’s Jewish community recently celebrated its 450th anniversary and is the second largest in the Baltic States.

On Thursday, 25 July, the Education, Culture and Science Committee of the Saeima met with representatives from the Chancery of the President, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Finance, state property management company Valsts Nekustamie Īpašumi, State Inspection for Heritage Protection, State Police, museums and construction companies to discuss the Riga Castle issue and agreed that it is necessary to urgently restore the  Riga Castle after the fire and to ensure as soon as possible that the cultural and historic heritage is protected.

Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, on Thursday, 25 July, sent letters to Pío García Escudero, President of the Senate of the Spanish parliament, and Jesús Posada, President of the Congress of Deputies, offering her condolences in regard to the tragic railway accident in Spain.

During the first six months of this year, the Saeima has received almost 3,500 submissions, including three collective submissions. Six submissions addressed to the Saeima were submitted via internet portal www.latvija.lv.

The decision made today by the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) to invite Latvia to join the euro area is significant not only politically and economically. This decision creates the need to explain to society the process of euro introduction, emphasised Chairperson Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica during today’s meeting of the European Affairs Committee.

On Tuesday, 9 July, the Saeima adopted in the third and final reading amendments to the Construction Law which provide for major changes in the current regulations that will significantly expedite the construction process and decrease the administrative burden for constructors.

“Developing close relations between the Baltic States and Germany is a foreign policy priority for our country and myself as the Speaker of the Saeima. Latvia is interested in strengthening our strategic cooperation at all levels,” said Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, on Monday, 8 July, when meeting with Joachim Gauck, President of the Federal Republic of Germany, in the Saeima.

“Lithuania is the first of the Baltic States to assume the EU presidency. Latvia will preside over the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2015, and Estonia in the beginning of 2018. Since the regaining of independence, the Baltic States have proved to be responsible partners in the international arena,” said Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, at the solemn session of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania on the occasion of the opening of the Lithuanian presidency of the Council of the European Union.