Forestry costs in Latvia increased significantly in 2023 compared to previous years, according to the Central Statistical Bureau (CSP), LSM reports. Forest regeneration costs rose by 6.5-19.3%, forest tending costs by 14.7-50.8%, and timber harvesting costs by 4.4% in final felling and 12.2% in intermediate felling. The overall increase in forestry costs is attributed to higher…
Estonia’s Ministry of Economy and Ministry of Finance have drafted legislation mandating gender balance on the boards of listed companies, ERR reports. An EU directive requires that at least 40% of supervisory board members or 33% of the total board and council members be from the underrepresented gender by the end of June 2026. Currently,…
Estonia continues to collect telecommunication data from its citizens despite it being against EU law and the constitution, ERR reports. The European Court of Justice and Estonia’s Supreme Court have concluded that the data collection is illegal. The data include detailed records from telecommunications and internet service providers, which the EU court argues infringes on…
Estonia’s Ministry of Justice reported that 66% of legal entities submitted their annual reports for the 2023 fiscal year by the deadline of 1 July 2024, which is an improvement from just 56% a year earlier, ERR reports. A ministry official said that the better compliance was due to recent changes aimed at motivating timely…
Lithuania’s State Data Protection Inspectorate (VDAI) has imposed a fine of EUR 2.39mn on the local online marketplace for second-hand goods, Vinted, for violating consumer data protection laws, BNS reports. The fine follows complaints from French and Polish supervisory authorities and pertains to breaches of the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Vinted was found…
Latvia plans to build a new factory producing modular powder charges for artillery ammunition in Iecava parish, LETA reports. The factory will have a production capacity of 50,000 charges annually. The plant is expected to begin operations in 2026. The project will cost an estimated EUR 12mn, with EUR 1mn to come from EU co-financing…
Electrifying the public transport system in Estonia’s Harjumaa county would require EUR 2bn in grid investments, Tallinn deputy mayor Kristjan Järvan stated, ERR reports. He said that the project would include major upgrades to both the distribution and transmission networks to support the increased use of electric vehicles. Electrifying Tallinn’s bus fleet alone would cost…
Latvia’s gross energy consumption totalled 185 PJ in 2023, which was 1 % less than in 2022, according to provisional data from the Central Statistical Bureau (CSP), LSM reports. Final energy consumption totalled 170 PJ, which was 0.9 % less than in 2022. Transport used 52 PJ (30.6%) of energy, followed by households with 45 PJ…
Latvian electronic cigarette manufacturer Pro Vape, which operates under the Salt brand, has challenged upcoming restrictions on flavoured electronic smoking devices before Latvia’s Constitutional Court, LETA reports. The amendments will ban the sale of flavoured electronic smoking device liquids and tobacco substitute products as of 2025. Pro Vape argues that the restrictions infringe on property…
