The Latvian government does not plan to make major changes to taxation in 2024, Finance Minister Arvils Aseradens assured, LSM reports. He said that now was not a good time to make changes in VAT, labour taxes, personal income tax, or corporate income tax. However, the Ministry of Finance will propose raising the excise duties…
Latvia’s Ministry of Finance plans to submit draft laws on the state budget for 2024 and budget plans for 2024-2026 to the parliament, the Saeima, on 3 November 2023, LETA reports. The government will discuss the budget at its next meeting. The new coalition government’s declaration pledges to carry out a “balanced social, environmental, and…
Latvia’s Ministry of Justice will propose banning vehicles registered in Russia and Belarus from staying in the country for more than three months, LSM reports. Under the proposed law, owners of Russian and Belarusian vehicles would have to re-register the vehicles in Latvia. Justice Minister Inese Libina-Egnere pointed out that keeping cars with Russian or…
Latvia’s Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP) has informed 3,541 Russian citizens that their Latvian residence permits expired on 2 September 2023, LSM reports. The persons have failed to submit applications to obtain long-term EU residence permits or retake language exams as required. The Russian nationals will therefore have to leave Latvia by 30…
The Lithuanian renewable energy company, Green Genius, will invest EUR 179mn in solar farms in Latvia and Lithuania, BNS reports. The company plans to invest EUR 109mn in a 153-hectare solar farm near the Latvian city of Jekabpils and EUR 70mn in a 140-hectare solar power plant in the Lithuanian town of Seduva. Green Genius…
Latvia’s parliament, the Saeima, has approved amendments to partially compensate electricity distribution tariffs in 2023, LSM reports. The government will cover 60% of the fixed part of electricity distribution tariffs from September 2023 until the end of the year, reducing electricity bills by an average of 18%. The support measure will cost around EUR 30.5mn,…
The Latvian parliament, the Saeima, has elected MP Daiga Mierina of the Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS) as its new speaker, LSM reports. She replaces United List’s Edvards Smiltens. Mierina was only elected at the fourth ballot after the two front-runners for the post, Gunars Kutris of ZZS and United List’s Maris Sprindzuks, were…
Latvia’s underground gas storage facility in Incukalns has enough gas for the winter season of 2023/2024, Climate and Energy Minister Kaspars Melnis assured, LSM reports. He said that gas transmission company Conexus Baltic Grid’s storage facility was now filled at 88.6% capacity, which is equivalent to over 20.2 TWh. Melnis noted that Latvia’s gas consumption…
Latvia’s state-owned Eiropas Dzelzcela Linijas (EDZL) has awarded a contract to build the Rail Baltica railway in Latvia to the European joint venture, ERB Rail Baltica, for EUR 3.7mn, LSM reports. ERB Rail Baltica was established by France’s Eiffage Génie Civil, Italy’s Rizzani de Eccher, and Poland’s Budimex. EDZL’s procurement commission excluded Türkiye’s IC Ictas…