Estonia’s and Latvia’s state-owned passenger train operators, Elron and Pasazieru Vilciens (Vivi), will open a regular train service from Tallinn via Tartu to the Latvian capital, Riga, on 12 January 2026, ERR reports. Elron received permission from the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) to use three new Stadler FLIRT diesel trains on Latvian railway…
The Estonian parliament, the Riigikogu, has rejected the opposition Estonian Centre Party’s (Keskerakond) proposal to lower the VAT on basic food products to 9%, ERR reports. No MPs voted against the proposal, but 42 MPs, mostly from the ruling coalition, abstained. Under the proposal, the VAT on specific categories of food, including vegetables and dairy,…
Estonia has only one foreign policy, Prime Minister Kristen Michal and Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna assured, ERR reports. Earlier, questions arose after President Alar Karis softened his remarks on the war in Ukraine during his state visit to Kazakhstan. Tsahkna stressed that Estonia’s foreign policy was centered on “standing against Russian aggression, supporting Ukraine, and…
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…
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…
Estonia’s Ministry of Climate has drawn up a draft bill that would allow building nuclear power plants in the country, ERR reports. The law, which would come into force in January 2027, would task the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority (TTJA) with regulation. Energy Minister Andres Sutt suggested that Estonia could eventually have small…
The Estonian parliament, the Riigikogu, has approved the state budget for 2026 with 51 MPs voting for and 37 against, ERR reports. The government estimates annual budget revenue at EUR 18.6bn and expenditure at EUR 19.5bn. Investments will total EUR 1.3bn, which will be 45% more than in 2025. Then government expects tax revenues to…
Germany-based news outlet Politico has named Estonia’s former prime minister, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, as one of Europe’s most influential people in 2025, ERR reports. Politico’s list ranked Kallas as the 16th most influential person in Europe. She is the only person on the list from the Baltic States. The publication labelled Kallas…
