House prices in the Baltic States rose the most in Lithuania in the first quarter of 2024, according to Eurostat data, LSM reports. Compared to the first quarter of 2023, house prices increased by 9.9% in Lithuania, 7.8% in Estonia, and 3.7% in Latvia. Compared to the fourth quarter of 2023, house prices went up…
Estonia needs to discuss the possible introduction of tuition fees in higher education, Toomas Asser, rector of the University of Tartu, stated, ERR reports. He said that maintaining the quality of education with state budget funds only was becoming unsustainable, noting that even affluent countries struggle to fund high-quality education exclusively with public funds. Asser…
Estonia’s incoming prime minister, Kristen Michal, said that the Estonian Reform Party would not propose reducing or repealing the tax-free income threshold during upcoming talks on forming a new coalition, ERR reports. Earlier, outgoing prime minister Kaja Kallas said that Reform had suggested lowering the basic income tax exemption, but that the party’s coalition partners…
A recent study reveals a significant increase in the occurrence of heat waves in the Baltic States, particularly Estonia, over the past 30 years, ERR reports. Using data from 40 weather stations in 1951-2021, the study assessed changes in heat waves using five common indices: Number, duration, total days, amplitude, and magnitude, showing a marked…
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, visited Estonia, where he met with Prime Minister Kaja Kallas and Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna, ERR reports. The discussions focused on economic and business cooperation, regional security, and human rights. Also, the foreign ministries of the two countries signed a memorandum to facilitate regular consultations….
National security, defence, and education will remain the main priorities of Lithuania’s state budget in 2025, Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte stated, BNS reports. Speaking in an interview with Info TV, Simonyte said that the government would spend a large part of budget revenues to raise pensions, increase teacher salaries, and service the public debt. The…
Defence spending as a percentage of GDP in the Baltic States is among the highest in NATO, according to the Tallinn-based International Centre for Defence and Security (ICDS), LSM reports. The study shows that Estonia’s overall defence expenditure amounts to 3.43% of GDP, which is third-highest in NATO after Poland (4.12%) and the US (3.72%)….
Lithuanian Transport Minister Marius Skuodis says EUR 1.3bn is needed to significantly improve the country’s road infrastructure, BNS reports. The current budget for road maintenance is EUR 872mn, which falls short of the necessary amount to address the deteriorating conditions, Skuodis says. The Ministry of Transport is exploring ways to provide direct funding to the…
The Estonian Reform Party has proposed reducing the tax-free income threshold to boost government budget revenue, Prime Minister Kaja Kallas revealed, ERR reports. However, she said that Reform’s coalition partners, Estonia 200 and the Social Democratic Party (SDE), opposed the idea due to its potential adverse impact on low-income earners. Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets of…