Saeimas part in the work of the EU

Prepared by: Public Relations Department Jkaba iela 11, Rga, LV-1811 Phone: 6708 7321 E-mail: info@saeima.lv

What is the Saeima?

The Saeima is the parliament of the Republic of Latvia, which is composed of 100 elected members of parliament
The Saeima: adopts laws monitors the work of the government adopts the state budget elects a number of state officials ratifies international treaties works in international parliamentary organisations
Prepared by: Public Relations Department Jkaba iela 11, Rga, LV-1811 Phone: 6708 7321 E-mail: info@saeima.lv

What is the European Union?

The European Union (EU) consists of 27 European countries
EU goals:
to ensure peace, welfare, and stability for its nations to overcome discords on the Continent to foster a balanced economic and social development to solve globalisation issues and to preserve diversity of European nations to protect values shared by Europeans

Latvia joined the European Union on 1 May 2004, together with nine other Central and Eastern European countries. That was the biggest wave of enlargement in the history of the EU.
Prepared by: Public Relations Department Jkaba iela 11, Rga, LV-1811 Phone: 6708 7321 E-mail: info@saeima.lv

How is the Saeima involved in the work of the European Union?

It takes part in drafting EU legal acts It monitors the EU-related work of the government It ratifies treaties of the EU It cooperates with the European parliament It cooperates with the parliaments of EU member states

The Saeima European Affairs Committee represents interests of the Saeima in the European Union
Prepared by: Public Relations Department Jkaba iela 11, Rga, LV-1811 Phone: 6708 7321 E-mail: info@saeima.lv

How is the Saeima involved in the work of the EU?

Saeimas participation in drafting EU legislative acts

The European Affairs Committee receives the draft and forwards it to the relevant line committee for evaluation EU institutions prepare a draft legislative act and send it to the Saeima European Affairs Committee The European Affairs Committee receives from the other committee the evaluated draft, prepares an opinion on behalf of the Saeima, and sends it to the EU institutions
Prepared by: Public Relations Department Jkaba iela 11, Rga, LV-1811 Phone: 6708 7321 E-mail: info@saeima.lv

Opinions of the national parliaments are respected when EU institutions take the final decision on the text of a legislative act and its coming into force. One-third of the EU member states can suspend the adoption of a legislative act.

How is the Saeima involved in the work of the EU?

The Saeima monitors the EU-related work of the government

The Saeima European Affairs Committee regularly meets ministers in order to discuss the work of the ministries on issues related to Latvias participation in the EU. This Committee approves Latvias national positions for the meetings of ministers of the EU member states.
A Ministry drafts the national position for the Council meeting The Ministry presents the drafted position at the meeting of the European Affairs Committee The European Affairs Committee agrees on approving the national position Having obtained the Saeima mandate, the minister goes to the Council meeting to defend Latvias interests

Prepared by: Public Relations Department Jkaba iela 11, Rga, LV-1811 Phone: 6708 7321 E-mail: info@saeima.lv

How is the Saeima involved in the work of the EU?

The Saeima cooperates with the European Parliament

The European Affairs Committee cooperates with the European Parliament and regularly meets MEPs representing Latvias inhabitants

The European Parliament is the only EU institution which is directly elected by citizens of the member states. At present, our country is represented in the European Parliament by 8 MEPs.
Prepared by: Public Relations Department Jkaba iela 11, Rga, LV-1811 Phone: 6708 7321 E-mail: info@saeima.lv

Interesting facts
Various high EU officials, such as the President of the European Parliament and EU commissioners, have visited the Saeima Latvias interests in Brussels represented by the Saeima attach, follows the news in the work of European Parliament and other institutions are who the EU

The European Affairs Committee is one of the largest committees of the Saeima; it now has 20 members, and all the parliamentary groups are represented in it

Prepared by: Public Relations Department Jkaba iela 11, Rga, LV-1811 Phone: 6708 7321 E-mail: info@saeima.lv

Follow the work of the Saeima on the Internet

www.saeima.lv

Prepared by: Public Relations Department Jkaba iela 11, Rga, LV-1811 Phone: 6708 7321 E-mail: info@saeima.lv

You can ask questions about the work of the Saeima:

by telephoning the Saeima at the number 67087321
by e-mailing at info@saeima.lv by coming to the Saeima Visitor and Information Centre at 16 Jkaba iela (entrance from Troku iela)
Prepared by: Public Relations Department Jkaba iela 11, Rga, LV-1811 Phone: 6708 7321 E-mail: info@saeima.lv

Thank you for your attention!

Prepared by: Public Relations Department Jkaba iela 11, Rga, LV-1811 Phone: 6708 7321 E-mail: info@saeima.lv