“Next year Latvia, together with other countries represented here today, will celebrate the tenth anniversary of accession to the European Union. In this decade we have experienced both political and economic upsets, and they have reminded us that the EU is based on values. These values are difficult to strengthen but easy to lose. We must keep this notion, this historical experience, in mind when discussing our place in Europe and the future of the EU,” Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, emphasised in her opening address at the international conference Development Cooperation: The Baltic Response, which took place on 10 May in the main building of the Saeima.

On Thursday, 9 May, the Saeima in the final reading adopted amendments to the Citizenship Law that recognise dual citizenship, set forth the procedure for granting citizenship to children born in Latvia to non-citizens and to children born abroad to Latvian citizens, as well as introduce changes in the naturalisation procedure.

Honourable President of Latvia,

The European Youth Guarantee is more than just a significant tool for curbing unemployment; it is also an opportunity to significantly reduce migration caused by the high level of youth unemployment, said Arvils Ašeradens, Deputy Chairman of the Social and Employment Matters Committee, at a meeting of chairpersons of employment, enterprise, innovation and social affairs committees of the national parliaments of the European Union held in Dublin on Monday, 29 April.

Should health education or politics and law be taught at school as separate mandatory subjects? How to strengthen the feeling among Latvian children and youths currently living abroad that they belong in Latvia? Should the state develop special support programmes for youth enterprises? Should information about advantages and risks related to introduction of the single European currency be disseminated also at schools? These were only some of the questions addressed by the 3rd Youth Parliament on 26 April.

“By using modern tools of communication and efficiently channelling information, parliaments can develop a continuous, open and honest dialogue with society more easily. Social networks and live broadcasts of plenary sittings are needed; however, it is not enough. I am certain that it is important to have direct contact with people, to hear society’s voice, opinions and attitudes towards local and global events,” emphasised Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, on Monday, 22 April, when addressing other Speakers of the Parliaments of the European Union at their annual Conference.

On Friday, 12 April, Vjačeslavs Dombrovskis, Chairman of the Economic, Agricultural, Environmental and Regional Policy Committee of the Saeima; Saulius Bucevičius, Chairman of the Committee on Rural Affairs of the Seimas; and Kalvi Kõva, Chairman of the Rural Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu, signed a declaration on the joint position of the Baltic States regarding reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) of the European Union.

On behalf of the Latvian parliament, Speaker Solvita Āboltiņa sent a letter to the Speaker of the House of Lords and the Speaker of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland expressing condolences on the passing away of Margaret Thatcher.

On Thursday, 4 April, the Saeima adopted in the final reading amendments to the Law on Application of Taxes in Free Ports and Special Economic Zones. Amendments stipulate that licenced capital companies and free port administrations are entitled to direct tax relief until 31 December 2035.