On Tuesday, 18 March, the Government heard the Ministry of Justice's annual information report on Latvia's participation in cases pending before the Court of Justice of the European Union in 2024. Last year, Latvia participated in 73 cases before the Court of Justice of the European Union, 8 more than in 2023, thus contributing both to the development of EU case law and to the protection of Latvia's interests.
Minister of Justice Inese Lībiņa-Egnere says: "Participation in European Union litigation allows Latvia not only to play an active role in the application, interpretation and policy-making of European Union law, but also to ensure that the interests of our country and society are duly taken into account. This is particularly important in the current geopolitical situation, where we need to give priority to the security interests of the Latvian state and Europe as a whole, as well as to provide all necessary support to Ukraine to ensure that justice prevails over the Russian war machine and war criminals are brought to justice for their war crimes."
Latvia continued to support Ukraine in its fight against the aggressor state by participating in 18 cases challenging restrictive measures imposed by the European Union on actions taken by individuals that undermine or threaten Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence. Latvia, firmly committed to international law and justice, filed two appeals against General Court judgments annulling EU restrictive measures.
In 2024, Latvia also intervened in a case in which Hungary sought the annulment of a decision taken by the European Peace Mechanism Committee to allocate funds for military support measures to the Ukrainian armed forces. Providing support to Ukraine is part of both Latvia's and the EU's national objectives, so Latvia's action in intervening in the case confirms its unchanged position. Moreover, the CJEU cases referred to raise important questions about the EU's ability to find appropriate legal mechanisms to continue its unwavering support for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity in the current geopolitical situation, which includes the perceived retaliation by some countries in pursuit of the EU's common foreign policy objectives.
Latvia has also intervened in a case in which Hungary sought the annulment of an EU law with generally accepted principles for the functioning of a democratic media environment and an effective internal market. Latvia's intervention in the case, in support of the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, demonstrates strong support for the EU's core values.
At the same time, membership of the European Court of Justice has also been a way for Latvia to stand up for the respect of EU law by other EU Member States. On 30 April 2024, the Court of Justice of the European Union delivered its judgment finding that Sweden had failed to fulfil its obligations under Directive 2014/49/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council by refusing to transfer contributions to Latvia's Deposit Guarantee Scheme, thus upholding Latvia's main claim in the case. As a result of the proceedings, the Swedish NGS transferred funds amounting to EUR 434 507.89 to the Latvian NGS.