The chairman of Lithuania’s ruling Homeland Union (TS-LKD), Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, has called for talks with the opposition Social Democratic Party of Lithuania (LSDP) over fears about the surge in support for the new far-right party, Dawn of Nemunas, ELTA reports. Speaking in an interview with Ziniu Radijas, Landsbergis warned that the Dawn of…
A court of appeal in Sweden has sentenced former Swedbank CEO Birgitte Bonnesen to 15 months in prison over money laundering at the bank’s Estonian branch, BNS reports, citing AFP. The court found that Bonnesen had provided shareholders with false information about measures taken at the branch to prevent money laundering. The appellate court overturned…
The Latvian parliament, the Saeima, has approved in final reading amendments that will allow Lithuania, Estonia, and Finland to store strategic gas reserves at the underground gas storage facility in Incukalns, LSM reports. The three Baltic States have earlier signed solidarity agreements on gas supplies. The amendments will also free the operator of the Incukalns…
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis criticised other EU member states for continuing to do business with China, BNS reported. Speaking after a meeting with US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell in Vilnius, Landsbergis noted that Lithuania was an example that it was “possible to survive without Russian gas and Chinese contracts.” He warned Lithuania’s…
Latvia’s state debt will remain below 50% of GDP in the coming years, Kaspars Abolins, head of the Latvian State Treasury, assured, LETA reports. Currently, the state debt stands at slightly over EUR 18bn, which is around 44% of GDP and one of the lowest in the EU, Abolins noted. The State Treasury expects the…
Some talks have started on a possible candidate for Estonia’s next president in 2026, ERR reports. The president is elected by the Estonian parliament, the Riigikogu, provided an agreement is reached by a two-thirds majority of MPs. The current three-party ruling coalition is two seats short of the 68 votes needed in the 101-seat parliament….
The number of job vacancies in the Baltic States rose in Lithuania but fell in Latvia and Estonia in the second quarter of 2024, according to Latvia’s Central Statistical Bureau (CSP), LSM reports. Compared to a year earlier, the number of vacancies increased by 3.3% in Lithuania, but declined by 5.6% in Latvia and 10.6% in…
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda is visiting Ukraine to attend the fourth annual summit of the Crimea Platform, BNS reports. Speaking at the event, Nauseda demanded that Russia release all illegally imprisoned Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars. He noted that Russia had implemented “brutal colonial policies” in Crimea for the past ten years. Russia’s reign of terror…
Latvia’s State Security Service (VDD) has asked the Prosecution Office to charge a non-citizen Latvian resident for planning terrorist attacks in Latvia, LSM reports. VDD’s investigation established that the person supports the ideology of the Islamic State terrorist group. The suspect was arrested in May 2024 after explosives, ammunition, and sulfuric acid were found at…