Latvia’s Road Transport Administration (ATD) has signed an agreement with Czechia’s Skoda Group for the purchase of nine battery-powered electric trains, LSM reports. Skoda was the only eligible bidder for the contract, LETA reported. Under the deal, worth EUR 89.409mn, Skoda is due to deliver the BEMU trains in 2029. ATD has an option to…
Estonia’s Harjumaa County Court has found a group of pro-Russian local politicians guilty of treason and activities against Estonia, sentencing them to several years in prison, ERR reports. The court found that Andrei Andronov, Aivo Peterson, and Dmitri Rootsi had undermined Estonia’s constitutional order and independence by taking part in Russia’s influence campaign targeted against…
Lithuania will seek support from the European Union and the United States to pressure the Belarusian regime into stopping smuggler balloons from flying into Lithuanian airspace, Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene announced, LRT reports. She said that the Lithuanian government was prepared to impose national sanctions or reclose the border with Belarus if diplomatic efforts with…
Poland’s President Karol Nawrocki will meet with his Latvian counterpart, Edgars Rinkevics, during a working visit to Latvia on 11 December 2025, LSM reports. The two presidents will discuss security issues, specifically the war in Ukraine, migratory pressure from Belarus, and the situation in the Baltic Sea. Also, Nawrocki will meet with Latvian Prime Minister…
The Estonian government has proposed amendments that would extend the period of mandatory military service to 12 months for all conscripts as of 2027, ERR reports. Currently, those who start their military service in the beginning of the year serve for 11 months, while those who start in autumn serve for 8 months. The Ministry…
Most large and medium-sized companies in the Baltic States plan to invest in business development in 2026, according to a Kantar survey for OP Corporate Bank, LSM reports. The survey showed that 87% of enterprises in Lithuania, 85% in Latvia, and 74% in Estonia plan to invest in development. Specifically, Lithuanian companies plan to increase…
The United States will not reduce its troops presence in Lithuania, currently numbering over 1,000, Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene stated, BNS reports. Speaking in an interview with LRT, Ruginiene assured that there was no risk of the US cutting the number of troops in the country following the government’s decision to raise defence spending…
Lithuania’s ruling Social Democratic Party of Lithuania (LSDP) plans to draft a new bill to make it easier to dismiss the director general of the country’s public broadcaster, Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT), BNS reports. Under the proposed amendments, LRT’s council would be able to dismiss the company’s director with simple majority by secret…
Only 4% of multi-apartment houses in need of renovation in Latvia have been renovated, according to the State Audit Office (LRVK), LSM reports. Latvia has over 39,500 multi-apartment houses, of which at least 26,600 need renovation. Martins Abolins, member of LRVK’s council, noted that more than half of all multi-apartment houses in the country were…