Culture Ministry leaves several unresolved bills to the next Saeima
The outgoing Saeima managed to pass the Architecture Law, but decisions on streaming platform investment, Latvian music quotas and a unified Song Festival office are left to the next parliament. The Culture Ministry and Minister Nauris Puntulis outlined the situation.
Latvia's Ministry of Culture worked on legislation in three areas this year: cultural heritage, support for locally produced content, and the governance of cultural organisations, with the aim of reducing bureaucracy. One of the last laws approved by the outgoing Saeima, the Latvian parliament, is the Architecture Law, but the next parliament inherits several other cultural proposals still awaiting decisions.
Adopted acts
In the heritage field, the law on preserving and protecting Kuldīga's old town took effect on 12 March. Amendments to the Criminal Law, in force from 16 April, establish liability for endangering heritage during armed conflict. A law on protecting cultural property in armed conflict was also adopted. As Baiba Mūrniece, the ministry's deputy state secretary for cultural policy, told the Saeima's Education, Culture and Science Committee, Latvia is now a full party to the Second Protocol of the Hague Convention.
On governance, laws were adopted for the Rīga Philharmonic national concert hall and for the Gors embassy of Latgale, along with amendments to the laws on libraries, archives, vocational education and public event safety. To cut red tape, price lists will in future be approved by the institutions themselves rather than the Cabinet of Ministers.
What remains for the next Saeima
Committee member Česlavs Batņa (AS) noted that next year the committee will have to deal with five bills: on copyright tax, streaming platforms, music quotas, the Barricades Museum and the National Library of Latvia.
The so-called Netflix tax would require streaming platforms to invest at least 3.5% of their previous-year revenue in Latvia in local audiovisual content, in acquiring distribution rights, or in contributions to the National Film Centre budget. This would give the sector an additional 600 thousand euros a year. Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs objects, pointing to possible damage to relations with the United States, and suggests finding funds in the state budget. The bill has lost its urgent status and has been returned to the responsible committee.
The bill on Latvian-made music quotas for radio faces resistance from broadcasters, though talks on percentage rates are under way. The copyright tax regime is planned to remain unchanged until 2030, and the minister expects no problems there.
Song Festival and wages
Culture Minister Nauris Puntulis (National Alliance) cited the adoption of the Song Festival development plan. A pay mechanism for ensemble leaders needs 300 thousand euros in next year's budget. Creating a unified Song Festival office is hampered by disagreement between organisers of the school and adult festivals.
On cultural workers' pay, the minister said support should go first to areas in the toughest situation, such as libraries and archives.
