Lithuania’s Defence Minister, Robertas Kaunas, has dismissed concerns over contractors chosen to build a military base for German troops in Rudninkai, ELTA reports. He noted that none of the bidders raised security concerns and there was thus no legal basis to exclude them. One of the companies, Rudina, which won a contract for EUR 348.35mn,…
Most Latvians are satisfied with their lives, according to a new Eurobarometer survey conducted in October 2025, LETA reports. The survey showed that 84% of Latvian residents were satisfied with their lives, which was the highest figure ever recorded and almost unchanged from spring 2025. Respondents cited rising prices, inflation, and cost of living (33%),…
Estonia’s GDP totalled EUR 39.848bn in 2024, which was up 3.9% from EUR 38.353bn in 2023, according to fresh data from Statistics Estonia, ERR reports. GDP per capita amounted to EUR 29,036, which was up EUR 1,047 from 2023. The service sector accounted for a record high of 75% of total value added in the…
Journalists and cultural workers in Lithuania have begun a three-day protest outside the parliament, the Seimas, against legislation that would facilitate dismissing the director of the country’s public broadcaster, Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT), BNS reports. Also, inflatable “air dancer” dolls were set up outside the office of President Gitanas Nauseda, urging him to…
Latvia’s population totalled 1.826 million people as of 1 November 2025, according to provisional data from the Central Statistical Bureau (CSP), LETA reports. The number of live births totalled 9,887 in the first ten months of 2025, which was 1,108 (10.1%) fewer than in the same period of 2024. Boys accounted for 5,162 (down 3.8%)…
The European Commission (EC) warned that the current funding model for Estonia’s public broadcaster, Eesti Rahvusringhääling (ERR), may violate the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA), ERR reports. Giuseppe Abbamonte, deputy director-general of the EC’s Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content, and Technology in charge of media policy, stated that Estonia’s protection of the independence of public…
As many as 15% of Lithuanians have given a monetary bribe or other form of compensation for medical services in recent years, according to a Baltijos Tyrimai poll for LRT. Meanwhile, around 75% of respondents said that they had not bribed medical staff. Another 9% said that they had not visited a medical facility at…
Average housing prices in Latvia rose by 8.4% in the third quarter of 2025, compared to the same period of 2024, according to provisional data from the Central Statistical Bureau (CSP), LSM reports. Prices of new dwellings increased by 3.8% and old dwellings by 9.4% over a year. Compared to the second quarter of 2025,…
The Estonian opposition party, Estonian Centre Party (Keskerakond), has reelected Mihhail Kõlvart as the party’s chairman, ERR reports. He ran unopposed at the party congress in Paide. Also, the congress elected a 14-member board. In his opening speech, Kõlvart noted that the Centre Party had proven wrong those who had said that it was finished,…