The Lithuanian government has signed a memorandum of understanding with US defence contractor Northrop Grumman on strengthening Lithuania’s defence industry, BNS reports. The memorandum focuses on the development, production, and supply of medium-calibre ammunition. Defence Minister Laurynas Kasciunas said that the aim was to start producing ammunition in Lithuania within 18 months. Northrop Grumman plans…
Latvia’s State Border Guard (VRS) has procured high-power speaker devices meant for psychological deterrence, LETA reports. VRS purchased the sound devices from Lithuania’s NT Service for around EUR 150,000. VRS has deployed the devices to Latvia’s eastern border to deter the illegal entry of large groups of people into the country. The non-lethal devices can…
Estonia’s housing price index rose by 6.7% in the second quarter of 2024, compared to the same period of 2023, according to Statistics Estonia, ERR reports. Compared to the first quarter of 2024, the index rose by 2.8%. Apartment prices rose by 2.9% and house prices by 2.4% over a quarter. Apartment prices rose by…
This week, Baltic candidates for EU commissioners were named, and the IMF backed down under pressure on its planned Russia mission. The Estonian government agreed on next year’s draft budget, pressed the Orthodox church to cut ties with Moscow, and voted to condemn Israel. Latvia’s president toured the US, the transport minister survived yet again,…
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said that he would urge the foreign minister of the next government to conduct an audit at the Foreign Ministry, BNS reports. Nauseda said that he would recommend that the ministry carry out a financial and a comprehensive performance audit. He implied that there may have been improprieties in the competition…
The crash of a Russian attack drone in eastern Latvia on 7 September 2024 has raised concerns about the ability of Baltic air defence systems to protect civilians from unexpected aerial threats, The Baltic Sentinel reports. Critics questioned why the drone, which was equipped with explosives, was not shot down but was instead allowed to…
Estonia’s Ministry of Interior has instructed the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (MPEÕK) to sever all ties with the Russian Orthodox Church (RPTs), ERR reports. In a letter to MPEÕK’s Bishop Daniel (Daniel Lepisk), the ministry’s secretary general, Tarmo Miilits, noted that MPEÕK’s updated statute failed to meet the requirement. Earlier, the Estonian…
The Lithuanian government has decided to restructure the country’s Refugee Reception Centre (PPC) into the Reception and Integration Agency (PIA) as of 2025, BNS reports. The new agency will operate under the Ministry of Social Security and Labour. The agency will ensure temporary accommodation and other assistance for foreign migrants and asylum applicants.
The Latvian parliament, the Saeima, has passed amendments mandating the country’s largest banks to provide in-person customer service and to maintain a network of ATMs outside big cities as of 2026, LSM reported. The new rules will apply to Swedbank, SEB, Citadele, and Luminor. Currently, the big banks have no permanent customer service points in…