Latvia: Defence Minister resigns at PM’s request
Latvian Defence Minister Andris Spruds has stepped down after Prime Minister Evika Silina demanded that…
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Welcome to Via Baltica, your “information superhighway” for news from the three Baltic tigers of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania! Our founder and editor-in-chief is Kerkko Paananen, senior news analyst with more than two decades of professional expertise in covering and reporting on current affairs in the Baltic States. We aim to do one thing well:…
Latvia: Defence Minister resigns at PM’s request
Latvian Defence Minister Andris Spruds has stepped down after Prime Minister Evika Silina demanded that he resign, LSM reports. Silina announced that she had lost trust in the minister due to his mishandling of recent incursions of Ukrainian drones and the broader situation in the defence sector, LETA reported. Silina said that her adviser, Colonel…
Lithuania: Vilnius plans to revamp public transport
The municipal government of the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, plans to expand the city’s public transport network by 30% by 2030, LRT reports. The city intends to add 7 new routes, increase frequency on 44 routes, and adjust another 46 routes. However, the current bus and trolleybus network is nearing its physical limit, and the city…
Latvia: Penultimate payment received from EU recovery fund
Latvia has received the fourth or penultimate payment of EUR 371.2mn from the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility, LSM reports. The European Commission approved the successful implementation of 41 specific reforms and investments set out in Latvia’s national recovery plan. Latvia has already received almost EUR 1.5bn (75%) of the total EUR 1.97bn recovery funds…
Estonia: Fewer children starting kindergarten, school
Around 63,000 children will start kindergarten in Estonia in 2026, which is down from just under 67,000 in 2025, according to the Ministry of Education, ERR reports. The number of children in kindergarten has gone down across the country due to falling birth rates, which has made it easier for parents to place their children…
Baltic: Number of multinationals highest in Estonia
The number of multinational corporations in the Baltic States was highest in Estonia in 2024, according to Eurostat data, LSM reports. Estonia had 1,199 multinationals in 2024, which was down slightly from 1,220 in 2023. Meanwhile, Lithuania had 984 (1,035) and Latvia 746 (718) multinational enterprises. In 2018, Estonia had as many as 1,529 multinationals,…
Lithuania: Train accidents propel sabotage fears
Two freight trains derailed in Lithuania within 48 hours on 1 and 2 May 2026, prompting fears of possible Russian sabotage, LRT reported. However, Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene said that the accidents were caused by technical failure or human error, BNS reported. A spokesman for state-owned railway group Lietuvos Gelezinkeliai (LTG) said that the derailment…
Latvia: Ministry defends “golden visa” scheme
Latvia’s Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP) issued 19,900 temporary residence permits to non-EU nationals who invested in the Latvian economy in the period from 1 July 2010 to the end of 2024, LETA reported. According to the Ministry of Economy, the so-called golden visa programme was “an important instrument” for attracting foreign capital…
Estonia: President still silent on second term
Estonia’s incumbent president, Alar Karis, said that he would indicate by July 2026 if he wants to run for a second term, ERR reports. Speaking in an interview with Vikerraadio, Karis noted that there was still several months until the election in September 2026, and that candidates could only be nominated in early July 2026….
Baltic: EU conference on Baltic Sea region in Tallinn
Over 500 experts and decision-makers from across the Baltic Sea region will attend the 17th Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR) in the Estonian capital, Tallinn, on 11-13 May 2026, BNS reports. The central theme of this year’s forum is resilience. The conference participants will discuss regional security and…