European Affairs Committee The Committee monitors the imple- mentation and cost-efficiency of EU Structural Funds’ investments. Respon- sible ministries present their progress reports to the Committee on quarterly basis. The Committee also cooperates with the European affairs committees of other parliaments of the EU member states and candidate countries. Composition The European Affairs Committee has al- ways been one of the largest committees of the Saeima. According to the Rules of Procedure, each parliamentary group must nominate at least one of its MPs to the Committee. The number of MPs representing each parliamentary group Vita Anda Tērauda, Chairperson of the European Affairs Committee is proportional to the number of seats it has in the Saeima. Work of the Commit- The European Affairs Committee (here- Committee represents the Saeima in tee is coordinated by consultants and the inafter – Committee) was established in EU affairs. The Committee approves representative of the Saeima to the Per- November 1995, at a time when the gov- national positions before they are manent Representation of the Republic ernment of Latvia submitted its applica- communicated to the Council of the of Latvia to the European Union. tion for accession to the EU to Spain, European Union. If necessary, it also which was the presiding country of the monitors the compliance of draft laws Approving national Council of the European Union at the considered by the Saeima with EU leg- time. Back then, the task of the Commit- islation. The Committee meets minis- positions tee was to oversee harmonisation of na- ters on a regular basis in order to dis- The European Affairs Committee ap- tional laws with EU legislation. In 2001, cuss the progress achieved by relevant proves national positions prepared the Committee was authorised to repre- ministries on EU matters. by the government. When important sent the Saeima on EU-related matters. CHAIRPERSONS OF THE COMMITTEE The role of the Committee changed when Latvia became a full-fledged Convocation Name Tenure member of the EU on 1 May 2004. Since then its areas of competence in- Māris Gailis 16.11.1995 – 08.02.1996 th clude review and adoption of national 6 Saeima Anatolijs Gorbunovs 08.02.1996 – 08.08.1996 positions, monitoring of EU funds’ Edvīns Inkēns 30.09.1996 – 02.11.1998 investments, closer involvement of 7th Saeima Edvīns Inkēns 12.11.1998 - 04.11.2002 NGOs and civil society in EU’s legisla- Guntars Krasts 21.11.2002 – 21.07.2004 8th Saeima tive processes, as well as cooperation Oskars Kastēns 12.08.2004 – 06.11.2006 with EU countries and the parliaments 9th Saeima Vaira Paegle 16.11.2006 – 02.11.2010 of the EU’s neighbouring countries. 10th Saeima Imants Viesturs Lieģis 04.11.2010 – 17.10.2011 Functions 11th Saeima Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica 20.10.2011 – 03.11.2014 12th Saeima Lolita Čigāne 06.11.2014 – 05.11.2018 According to the Rules of Procedure th of the Saeima, the European Affairs 13 Saeima Vita Anda Tērauda Since 20.11.2018 Fact Sheet 26 v26.10 ENG; 01.07.19. Saeima of the Republic of Latvia • Jēkaba iela 11, Rīga, LV-1811, Latvia • phone: +371 67087321 • www.saeima.lv • e-mail: [email protected] legislative initiatives or strategic issues fectively at the EU level, the draft must ropean Union). Participants of this are considered, the minister who will be revised. In other words, the Treaty Conference facilitate the exchange of represent Latvia at the relevant Council of Lisbon has expanded the functions information and best practice among of the European Union must first pres- of the European Affairs Committee to national parliaments and member state ent the position prepared by the gov- scrutiny over draft laws of the Europe- line ministries, the Council of the Eu- ernment to the Committee and when an Union and when necessary formu- ropean Union and the European Com- it is approved by the Committee the lating Saeima’s opinion on compliance mission. Furthermore, representatives minister is allowed to present it to the of the proposed EU laws with the prin- of the European affairs committees of Council of the EU as Latvia’s official ciple of subsidiarity. the national parliaments of the Euro- position. If the Committee rejects the pean Union can jointly agree on the position approved by the government, Cooperation with need to address specific issues by put- the relevant ministry must amend the other sectoral ting them on the agenda of the EU. position in accordance with the recom- mendations of the Committee before committees of the How can I follow presenting it to the Council. Saeima the work of the The European Affairs Committee co- Committee? Work of the operates with other sectoral commit- Agendas, publicly available documents tees of the Saeima by holding joint Committee after and press releases of Committee meet- meetings where current EU issues are the Treaty of ings are available on the webpage of the discussed and Latvia’s position on de- Lisbon Saeima. Most Committee meetings are velopments and processes within the open to the public. To attend a meet- The Treaty of Lisbon gives national EU is defined. parliaments greater opportunities for ing, please contact the Committee to involvement and influencing of the Cooperation with arrange for visitor’s pass and bring an legislative process of the European ID with you. Union. According to the Treaty, all other parliaments draft EU laws are sent to national par- The Committee regularly meets with CONTACT INFORMATION liaments. Parliaments are then given its counterparts from other parlia- eight weeks to formulate an opinion on ments of the European Union mem- Address: Jēkaba iela 6/8, Riga, LV-1811, Latvia the compliance of these draft laws with ber states during COSAC (Meeting of Phone: + 371 6708 7324 the subsidiarity principle. If one third the Chairpersons of the Conference of Fax: +371 6708 7366 of national parliaments concludes that Parliamentary Committees for Union E-mail: [email protected] particular area cannot be regulated ef- Affairs of the Parliaments of the Eu- Fact Sheet 26 v26.10 ENG; 01.07.19. Saeima of the Republic of Latvia • Jēkaba iela 11, Rīga, LV-1811, Latvia • phone: +371 67087321 • www.saeima.lv • e-mail: [email protected].