Latvia joined the European Union on 1 May&nbsp;2004 and has been a member of the Schengen area since 21 December 2007. It became a member of the Euro area on 1 January 2014.

Latvia is a parliamentary republic with a head of government - the Prime Minister - who chooses the council of ministers and a head of state - the President - who has a largely ceremonial role and nominates the Prime Minister.

The government is subject to Parliament's approval throughout each term.

The country is subdivided into 110 one-level municipalities and 9 cities. These each have their own city councils and municipal administrations.

There are 8 Members of the European Parliament from Latvia.

EU - Latvia

Krišjānis KARINS, Latvian Prime Minister, is the twentieth EU leader to debate the future of Europe with MEPs, and the last one before the European Elections 23-26 May 2019, in plenary session in Strasbourg.

The Europeans want the EU to change. This is why the European Parliament is taking the leadership over a reform of the EU.

Parliament set out its vision for the future of Europe in three resolutions voted in plenary session on 16 February 2017. MEPs suggested, among other things: turning the Council of Ministers into a genuine second legislative chamber, and its configurations into preparatory bodies similar to Parliament’s committees, appointing an EU finance minister and giving the EU Commission the power to formulate and give effect to a common EU economic policy, backed up by a euro-area budget, and creating a fiscal capacity consisting of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) and specific additional budgetary capacity for the euro area, funded by its members as a part of the EU budget.

Catch up on all the future of Europe debates

Debate on the Future of Europe with Krišjānis KARINS, Latvian Prime Ministe

Latvia joined the European Union 1st January 2014 and it has been a member of the Schengen area since 21st December 2017.

Latvia is a parliamentary republic with a head of government - the Prime Minister - who chooses the council of ministers and a head of state - the President - who has a largely ceremonial role and nominates the prime minister. The government remains subject to Parliament's approval throughout each term. The country is subdivided into 110 one-level municipalities and 9 cities. These have their own city councils and municipal administrations.

There are 8 members of the European Parliament from Latvia.

EU - Latvia (2019-2020)

EP President Roberta Metsola is in Riga, where she will meet with Speaker of the Saeima Daiga Mieriņa, President of the Republic of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs, Prime Minister Evika Siliņa and Minister of Foreign Affairs Krišjānis Kariņš. President Metsola will then deliver a speech and participate in a discussion with young Latvians.

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Riga (Latvia)

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Riga (Latvia) - Town Hall discussion with young Latvians, organised by the Latvian Institute of International Affairs

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Riga (Latvia) - Meeting with Krišjanis KARIŅŠMinister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Riga (Latvia) -  Meeting with Evika SILINA, Latvian Prime Minister

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Riga (Latvia) - Meeting with Edgars RINKĒVIČS, President of Latvia

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Riga (Latvia) - Meeting with Daiga MIERINA, Speaker of the Saeima of the Republic of Latvia

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Edgars RINKEVICS, President of Latvia - Press Point

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Edgars RINKEVICS, President of Latvia

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Krišjanis KARINŠ, Latvian Prime Minister.- Press point

This news item shows excerpts from two Latvian citizens voting from home for the 2024 European elections in Riga (Latvia). If the voters cannot be present at the polling station due to health reasons, they may vote at their own location by making prior arrangements with the polling station. These rules also apply to the careers of such voters. The European elections take place in Latvia on 8 June, 2024. Eligible voters who are at least 18 years old on the election date can cast their vote to elect nine Latvian Members of the European Parliament. Citizens in the EU Member States elect their representatives to the European Parliament during the European elections of 6 to 9 June. The newly elected Members, representing EU citizens until 2029, meet in July to elect their President, Vice-Presidents and Quaestors. They decide on the composition of Parliament's standing and sub committees - thereby launching the new legislative term.

European elections 2024 - Ambiance shots of home voting in Riga (Latvia)

This news item shows excerpts from Latvian voters arriving at the polling station, casting their ballots, and engaging in civic duty in the Latvijas Nacionālā bibliotēka ("National Library") in Riga (Latvia). Moreover, the video shows exterior shots of the peculiar locations of the city of Riga. The European elections take place in Latvia on 8 June 2024. Eligible voters who are at least 18 years old on the election date can cast their vote in order to elect nine Latvian Members of the European Parliament. Citizens in the EU Member States elect their representatives to the European Parliament during the European elections of 6 to 9 June. The newly elected Members, representing EU citizens until 2029, meet in July to elect their President, Vice-Presidents and Quaestors. They decide on the composition of Parliament's standing and sub committees - thereby launching the new legislative term.

European elections 2024 - Ambiance shots of polling station inside the Latvijas Nacionālā bibliotēka (National Library) in Riga (Latvia)

EP President Roberta Metsola, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, former EP President Pat Cox, and former Commission President Romano Prodi participates in a formal sitting of Parliament to mark the 20th anniversary of the 2004 EU enlargement round along with representatives from the ten countries, that joined the EU 20 years ago. During the ceremony, the guests answer questions from a group of young people born on or around 1 May 2004 from the new member states, who are invited to attend the sitting.

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement: extracts from the ceremony

European Parliament celebrates the 20th anniversary of the EU’s biggest enlargement On Wednesday morning, MEPs, EU and member state representatives, and young people born in May 2004, will mark the ten countries joining the EU 20 years ago. On this occasion, EP President Roberta Metsola welcomes Leszek MILLER, Pat COX, Günter VERHEUGEN, Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA, Peter MEDGYESSY, Lawrence GONZI, Anton ROP, Mikulas DZURINDA, Kristiina OJULAND, Giorgios IACOVOU, Antanas VALIONIS, Pavel TELIČKA and Romano PRODI

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement: extracts from the arrivals

Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, delivers a speech and attends a Town Hall discussion with young Latvians, organised by the Latvian Institute of International Affairs. This news item shows extracts from the statement of President Metsola and the exchange of views with students on European Union affairs.

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Riga (Latvia): extracts from the speech and Town Hall discussion with young Latvians

Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, meets with Evika SILIŅA, Latvian Prime Minister and Krišjanis KARIŅŠ, Latvian Minister for Foreign Affairs, during her official visit to Riga (Latvia). This news item shows extracts from the arrival of President Metsola, her meeting with Prime Minister Silina and their press point with journalists.

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Riga (Latvia) - meeting with Evika SILIŅA, Latvian Prime Minister and Krišjanis KARIŅŠ, Latvian Minister for Foreign Affairs: arrival, meeting and extracts from the press point

Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, and Evika SILIŅA, Latvian Prime Minister, hold a press point on the occasion of the President's official visit to Riga (Latvia). This transcription is a result of an authomatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press point by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Evika SILIŅA, Latvian Prime Minister

Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, meets with Edgars RINKĒVIČS, President of the Republic of Latvia, during her official visit to Riga (Latvia). This news item shows extracts from the arrival of President Metsola and welcome by Edgars RINKĒVIČS, President of the Republic of Latvia, and extracts from the meeting.

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Riga (Latvia) - meeting with Edgars RINKĒVIČS, President of the Republic of Latvia: arrival and meeting

EU - Latvia (T)

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