Latvia will still be obliged to apply certain provisions of the Istanbul Convention, even if its withdrawal from the treaty is finalized. This was stated by the European Commission.
The Latvian Parliament, after heated debates, decided to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention - an international agreement of the Council of Europe aimed at helping women who have become victims of violence.
The text of the convention on the protection of women and the fight against domestic violence has been signed and ratified by 39 European and Central Asian countries plus the EU. Since the EU has joined it in full, the treaty is legally binding for all EU member states, officials in Brussels explained.
The European Commission has not yet provided direct comments regarding the sensational vote in the Latvian Parliament, noting that it wants to wait for the process to be completed. Latvia's withdrawal from the convention still needs to be approved by the country's president, Edgars Rinkēvičs. However, the country will still be obliged to apply certain provisions of the Istanbul Convention, even if its withdrawal from the treaty is finalized.
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