Cooperation among the Baltic States is excellent, and coordinated Baltic action with joint efforts at the European level make it possible to achieve significantly more. This was emphasised at the Saeima on Thursday, 13 November, by Daiga Mieriņa, Speaker of the Saeima of the Republic of Latvia, Lauri Hussar, President of the Riigikogu of the Republic of Estonia, and Juozas Olekas, Speaker of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania.

On Thursday, 13 November, Daiga Mieriņa, Speaker of the Saeima, welcomed Juozas Olekas, Speaker of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, at the Saeima to discuss the joint position of Latvia and Lithuania regarding support for Ukraine, as well as the close cooperation between both countries within the Baltic Sea region.

Latvian conductor Kaspars Putniņš has been awarded the Baltic Assembly Prize in the Arts. The prize was awarded to Putniņš for his performance with the Latvian Radio Choir in the concert programme Stream of Dreams, which took place on 31 March 2023 in the Great Hall of the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music as part of the Baltic Music Days. At the formal ceremony in Riga on Thursday, 13 November, the prize was received on his behalf by the Ilze Paidere-Staķe, Director of the Latvian Radio Choir.

On Wednesday, 5 November, the Saeima returned the draft law on Latvia’s withdrawal from the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (the Istanbul Convention) to the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee for reconsideration.

On Thursday, 30 October, Speaker of the Saeima Daiga Mieriņa met with Prime Minister of Lithuania Inga Ruginienė at the Parliament to discuss cooperation between the two neighbouring countries in defence and the progress of the “Rail Baltica” infrastructure project.

The Saeima reiterated Latvia’s unwavering support for Ukraine’s integration into the European Union and NATO, underlining Ukraine’s rightful place within the family of European democratic nations. In a statement  adopted on 30 October, the Saeima commended Ukraine’s reforms and progress achieved in continuing its fight against Russia’s military aggression, and reiterated the call to use all possible means to support Ukraine in its struggle for the security of its own State and of all Europe.

On Thursday, 30 October, the Saeima adopted in the final reading an urgent draft law providing for Latvia’s withdrawal from the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention).

Latvia and Denmark share a common understanding of the security situation in Europe and a united vision of the region’s future development. We are committed to working closely together in order to meet challenges and to strengthen our collective defence capabilities, Speaker of the Saeima, Daiga Mieriņa, emphasised during an official reception at the Latvian Parliament in honour of Their Majesties King Frederik X and Queen Mary of Denmark on Tuesday, 28 October.

“We are truly proud and grateful to have such outstanding and inspiring individuals here in Latvia who, through selfless action, help those in need and elevate Latvia’s name on the international stage,” said Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima, on Friday, October 17, as she expressed gratitude to representatives of civil society for their support of Ukraine. Ukrainian State awards were presented today at the Saeima to Liene Dambiņa, President of the Children's Hospital Foundation in Latvia, and NGO “Agendum” for their significant contributions in providing aid to Ukraine during the war. Deputy Speaker Kalniņa-Lukaševica presented the awards together with Edvards Smiltēns, Secretary of the Saeima, and Vasyl Kniazevych, Head of the Honourable Council of the Ukrainian Order of Saint Panteleimon.