Poor management of Latvia’s state forest management company, Latvijas Valsts Mezi (LVM), led to major monetary losses, according to the State Audit Office (LRVK), LSM reported. The audit concluded that LVM’s management and the Ministry of Agriculture had failed to ensure sufficiently effective oversight of the company. The government’s decision to provide support to timber…
The leader of Estonia’s national-conservative opposition party, Fatherland (Isamaa), Urmas Reinsalu, is the country’s most popular candidate for prime minister, according to a Norstat poll done in May 2026 for the Institute for Societal Research (YI), ERR reports. The survey showed that 27% of respondents would prefer to see Reinsalu as prime minister, followed by…
Leaders of NATO and the EU expressed full support for the Baltic States after Russian threats, ERR reported. Russia accused the Baltic States of allowing Ukrainian drone strikes from their territory, threatening retaliation. NATO secretary general Mark Rutte called the Russian accusations “absolutely ridiculous,” while European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen stated that the…
The government of North Macedonia has decided to open an embassy in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, Media Information Agency reports. The embassy will represent Macedonia’s interests across the three Baltic States. The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry welcomed the decision and reaffirmed Lithuania’s support for Macedonia’s EU membership, BNS reported. Lithuania and Macedonia established diplomatic relations in…
Four political groups in Latvia have signed an agreement on tasks and working principles for a new coalition government, LETA reports. The new coalition would consist of the opposition United List and National Alliance as well as current coalition partners New Unity and the Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS). United List’s Andris Kulbergs would…
Estonia’s incumbent president, Alar Karis, does not have sufficient support in the parliament, the Riigikogu, to be elected for a second term, according to Kristina Kallas, chairwoman of the liberal coalition party, Estonia 200 (E200), ERR reports. Kallas said that a majority of E200 MPs did not support Karis, and she called for considering other…
Russia’s Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) has doubled rail freight tariffs to Estonia, Latvia, and Finland as of 1 June 2026, ERR reports. The double rate will apply to freight transported via Belarus to Latvia and Estonia as well. Freight to Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave or Lithuania is exempt, however. Estonian logistics expert Raivo Vare pointed out…
Estonia’s national-conservative opposition party, Fatherland (Isamaa), remained the country’s most popular political party in May 2026, according to a new Norstat poll for the Institute for Societal Research (YI), ERR reported. The survey showed that Fatherland’s support among eligible voters was 26.6%, followed by three other opposition parties: the Estonian Centre Party (Keskerakond) with 21.5%,…
Passenger traffic by land and sea transport increased in Latvia in 2025, according to the Central Statistical Bureau (CSP), LSM reported. The number of passengers on land transport totalled 192.4 million in 2025, which was up 0.6% from 191.2 million in 2024. The number of passengers on regular bus lines amounted to 97.6 million (down…
