Foreign Minister declares satisfaction about ratification of Treaty of Lisbon in Saeima

Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins has expressed his satisfaction about the conclusion of the ratification process of the Treaty of Lisbon in the Saeima. In a final reading on 8 May, the Saeima of Latvia ratified the Treaty of Lisbon, which amends the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty establishing the European Community. 70 members of Saeima voted for the ratification, one abstained, but three voted against.

The ratification process in Latvia will be completed when the President announces the law on the ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon. In accordance with constitutional requirements of the state, the law should be announced no earlier than on the 10^th day and no later than on the 21^st day after its adoption by the Saeima.

At present, 11 EU member states have finished ratification of the Treaty: Hungary, Slovenia, Malta, Romania, France, Bulgaria, Poland, Slovakia, Portugal, Denmark, and Austria. Should all member states ratify the Treaty, it will enter into force on 1 January 2009.

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