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To strengthen the Parliament's ties with civil society and underscore its pivotal role in law-making, today, on 27 February—the World NGO Day—the Saeima, together with partners from the non-governmental sector, started a new tradition, introducing the Saeima committees Open Door Day.

"The more we engage in dialogue, the higher the quality of our resolutions and draft laws. Together, we can achieve great things," said Daiga Mieriņa, Speaker of the Saeima. She emphasised that the Saeima Committees Open Door Day is a step towards an open governance model, urging parliamentarians and civil society members to foster positive, constructive dialogue in various formats.

The Open Door Day of the Saeima committees is an exceptional platform to deliberate on shared concerns and bolster collaboration by directly engaging with participants of the event, noted members of the Saeima Presidium.

Both legislators and representatives of associations and foundations praised the fruitful exchange between civil society and parliamentarians at the Open Door Day, underscoring the need to sustain active cooperation in order to effectively advocate for and advance public interests.

With over 100 stakeholders from nearly 60 different associations and foundations participating in the Open Door Day of the Saeima Committees, MPs and civil society representatives reflected on ways to improve dialogue between the legislators and civil society.

During the Open Door Day, participants delved into pressing topics on the agendas of the Saeima committees and civil society organisations, including accessibility of the built environment and services for persons with physical and mental disabilities, boosting the competitiveness and export potential of the economy, accountability for the use of deep‑fake technologies, the provisions of the Law on Prevention of Conflict of Interest in Activities of Public Officials and their potential liberalisation, and the integration of Ukrainian civilians in Latvia.

The active engagement of civil society is crucial for the Parliament's everyday work in evaluating legislative proposals and offering suggestions for their improvement. Committees also invite civil society representatives as experts when considering pertinent issues. In addition to day-to-day collaboration, the Saeima hosts an annual forum bringing together MPs and NGOs to address mutual concerns, evaluate prior cooperation outcomes, and pinpoint areas for future collaboration.

To enhance cooperation and upgrade dialogue with the non-governmental sector, last week, the Saeima Presidium approved a new declaration on cooperation between the Saeima and civil society.

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Saeima Press Service