The Baltic Assembly and the Nordic Council have agreed on new priorities of cooperation at their annual summit in the Estonian capital, Tallinn, BNS reports. In the 2024-2026 period, the two parliamentary cooperation organisations will focus on supporting Ukraine’s reconstruction and on defence against cyber threats and disinformation. Also, the eight parliaments will promote democracy…
Lithuania’s opposition Union of Democrats for Lithuania (DSVL) will withdraw from a national defence agreement signed by all parliamentary parties in July 2022, BNS reports. Under the deal, the parties pledged to keep defence spending above 2.5% of GDP and increase the number of military conscripts. DSVL announced its exit from the pact after the…
Latvia’s Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP) has informed 3,541 Russian citizens that their Latvian residence permits expired on 2 September 2023, LSM reports. The persons have failed to submit applications to obtain long-term EU residence permits or retake language exams as required. The Russian nationals will therefore have to leave Latvia by 30…
The most attractive employer in Estonia in 2023 is LHV Bank, according to branding agency Instar’s poll, Estonian World reports. The survey showed that LHV Bank was the most attractive employer both among university students and experienced workers. Meanwhile, the most attractive employer among vocational school students was entertainment company Apollo Group. The second-most attractive…
The Lithuanian renewable energy company, Green Genius, will invest EUR 179mn in solar farms in Latvia and Lithuania, BNS reports. The company plans to invest EUR 109mn in a 153-hectare solar farm near the Latvian city of Jekabpils and EUR 70mn in a 140-hectare solar power plant in the Lithuanian town of Seduva. Green Genius…
Latvia’s parliament, the Saeima, has approved amendments to partially compensate electricity distribution tariffs in 2023, LSM reports. The government will cover 60% of the fixed part of electricity distribution tariffs from September 2023 until the end of the year, reducing electricity bills by an average of 18%. The support measure will cost around EUR 30.5mn,…
Estonia’s dwelling price index rose by 5% on year in the second quarter of 2023, according to data from Statistics Estonia, ERR reports. Apartment prices rose by 5.7% and house prices by 3.2%. Compared to the first quarter of 2023, the index rose by 3.8%. Meanwhile, the owner-occupied housing price index rose by 10.6% on…
The Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, has passed a law that bans fur farming as of 2027, BNS reports. Altogether 68 MPs voted for and 25 against the ban, while 15 abstained. The government will provide compensation to fur farmers. The compensation will amount to EUR 3 per animal in 2024, EUR 2 in 2025, and…
The Latvian parliament, the Saeima, has elected MP Daiga Mierina of the Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS) as its new speaker, LSM reports. She replaces United List’s Edvards Smiltens. Mierina was only elected at the fourth ballot after the two front-runners for the post, Gunars Kutris of ZZS and United List’s Maris Sprindzuks, were…