1. Saeima’s part in the
work of the EU
Prepared by: Public Relations Department
Jēkaba iela 11, Rīga, LV-1811 • Phone: 6708 7321 • E-mail: info@saeima.lv

2. 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
Jēkaba iela 11, Rīga, LV-1811 • Phone: 6708 7321 • E-mail: info@saeima.lv

3. 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.
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Jēkaba iela 11, Rīga, LV-1811 • Phone: 6708 7321 • E-mail: info@saeima.lv

4. 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
Jēkaba iela 11, Rīga, LV-1811 • Phone: 6708 7321 • E-mail: info@saeima.lv

5. How is the Saeima involved in the work of the EU?
Saeima’s participation in drafting EU legislative acts
Opinions of the
The European Affairs national parliaments
Committee receives the draft are respected when
and forwards it to the relevant EU institutions take
line committee for evaluation the final decision on
the text of a legislative
act and its coming
EU institutions prepare a
into force. One-third
draft legislative act and
of the EU member
send it to the Saeima
states can suspend the
European Affairs
adoption of a
Committee
legislative act.
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
Jēkaba iela 11, Rīga, LV-1811 • Phone: 6708 7321 • E-mail: info@saeima.lv

6. 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 Latvia’s participation in
the EU. This Committee approves Latvia’s national positions for the meetings
of ministers of the EU member states.
A Ministry drafts The Ministry presents The European Having obtained the
the national the drafted position Affairs Committee Saeima mandate, the
position for the at the meeting of the agrees on minister goes to the
Council meeting European Affairs approving the Council meeting to
Committee national position defend Latvia’s
interests
Prepared by: Public Relations Department
Jēkaba iela 11, Rīga, LV-1811 • Phone: 6708 7321 • E-mail: info@saeima.lv

7. 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 Latvia’s
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
Jēkaba iela 11, Rīga, LV-1811 • Phone: 6708 7321 • E-mail: info@saeima.lv

8. Interesting facts
Various high EU officials, such as the
President of the European Parliament and
EU commissioners, have visited the Saeima
 Latvia’s interests in Brussels are
represented by the Saeima attaché, who
follows the news in the work of the
European Parliament and other EU
institutions
 The European Affairs Committee is one of
the largest committees of the Saeima; it now
has 19 members, and all the parliamentary
groups are represented in it
Prepared by: Public Relations Department
Jēkaba iela 11, Rīga, LV-1811 • Phone: 6708 7321 • E-mail: info@saeima.lv

9. Follow the work of the Saeima on the
Internet
www.saeima.lv
Prepared by: Public Relations Department
Jēkaba iela 11, Rīga, LV-1811 • Phone: 6708 7321 • E-mail: info@saeima.lv

10. 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 Jēkaba iela
(entrance from Trokšņu iela)
Prepared by: Public Relations Department
Jēkaba iela 11, Rīga, LV-1811 • Phone: 6708 7321 • E-mail: info@saeima.lv

11. Thank you for your attention!
Prepared by: Public Relations Department
Jēkaba iela 11, Rīga, LV-1811 • Phone: 6708 7321 • E-mail: info@saeima.lv