The three Baltic states have agreed to impose national sanctions against those who suppressed legitimate protests in Georgia, Civil Georgia reports. In their joint statement, the Baltic foreign ministers said that “opponents of democracy and violators of human rights are not welcome in our countries.” Meanwhile, all three Baltic presidents phoned their Georgian counterpart, Salome…
Canada’s Foreign Minister, Mélanie Joly, is visiting Latvia on 1-4 December 2024 to attend the second 3+1 meeting of Baltic and Canadian foreign ministers, Global Affairs Canada announced. The ministers will discuss Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, NATO’s deterrence and defence posture in Eastern Europe, and other regional and global challenges to peace and security. Joly…
The foreign ministers of the eight Nordic and Baltic countries (NB8) will pay a visit to Moldova on 15 October 2024, BNS reports. The delegation will meet with Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean and Foreign Minister Mihai Popsoi. The ministers will visit several regions in Moldova to show their support for Moldova’s EU accession, reform…
The unemployment rate in the Baltic States was lowest in Latvia in August 2024, according to Eurostat data, LETA reports. Latvia’s unemployment rate stood at 7.0%, compared to 7.9% in both Estonia and Lithuania. Average unemployment in the EU stood at 5.9% and at 6.4% in the eurozone.
This week, the Baltic presidents called for reforming the UN Security Council, and defence officials discussed strengthening NATO’s eastern flank. As new GDP forecasts were published, Estonia’s government presented its draft budget for 2025, while the Latvian government unveiled plans for tax changes. Also, possible pension reforms were discussed in both Latvia and Lithuania. ***…
Estonia ranks highest in the Baltic States on the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) Global Innovation Index, LSM reports. Estonia ranked 16th globally in 2024, which was unchanged from 2023. Lithuania’s ranking was 35th, which was down from 34th place a year earlier. Latvia ranked 42nd, which was down from 37th place in 2023. In…
The defence ministers of the three Baltic States met with a high official of Poland’s Defence Ministry in Latvia’s Daugavpils to discuss the strengthening of regional defence infrastructure, LSM reports. Latvian Defence Minister Andris Spruds stressed the importance of implementing NATO decisions to strengthen the defence of the alliance’s eastern flank, including regional air-defence capabilities….
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) expects the Latvian and Lithuanian economies to grow and the Estonian economy to contract in 2024, LSM reports. The bank lowered its GDP growth forecast for Estonia and Latvia, but raised its forecast for Lithuania. EBRD now expects Estonia’s GDP to decline by 0.8% in 2024, down…
The presidents of the three Baltic States — Estonia’s Alar Karis, Latvia’s Edgars Rinkevics, and Lithuania’s Gitanas Nauseda — have called for reforming the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), BNS reported. They stressed the need to support Ukraine and hold Russia accountable for its military aggression. Karis pointed to the UNSC’s current inability to resolve conflicts,…