Sweden will deploy an army battalion of 800 troops to Latvia in early 2025, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced, LSM reports. The mechanised battalion, which may include Leopard tanks, will be part of the Canadian-led NATO enhanced Forward Presence battle group based in Latvia. Sweden is due to join NATO soon. In July 2023,…
The number of new businesses registered in Latvia totalled 8,772 in 2023, according to data from enterprise database Lursoft, LETA reports. Meanwhile, the number of businesses liquidated amounted 7,844 in 2023, which was the lowest number since 2015. In the previous seven years, the number of liquidated enterprises exceeded the number of new businesses. Over…
More than every tenth person in Latvia is lonely, according to a Norstat poll for LSM. The survey showed that 13% of residents feel lonely throughout the year, while 25% feel lonelier during autumn and winter. As many as 20% of young people aged 18-29 years feel lonely regardless of the season and 32% during…
The EU should ban the import and transit of grain from Russia and Belarus, Latvia’s Transport Minister Kaspars Briskens stated, LSM reports. He urged the Baltic States to adopt a joint position on the issue, whereas Latvia’s state-owned rail operator, LDz Cargo, insisted on the need for a common EU stance. When Estonia’s state-owned rail…
Retailers in Estonia expect declining sales in the first half of 2024 amid lower consumer confidence, ERR reports. Many consumers plan to go shopping in neighbouring countries due to the rise in the VAT rate from 20% to 22% as of 1 January 2024, according to a Norstat poll for Citadele bank, BNS reports. The…
Passenger rail service from Estonia’s second-largest city, Tartu, to the Latvian capital, Riga, could begin in the second half of 2025, according to Estonian passenger rail operator Elron, LETA reports. Latvia’s passenger train operator, Pasazieru Vilciens (Vivi), has proposed opening a rail link from Riga to Tartu in spring 2025. Latvia’s Transport Minister, Kaspars Briskens,…
Latvia will deport at least 1,167 Russian citizens who failed to comply with the immigration law and apply for permanent residence permits, the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP) told LETA. Of the total, 789 are over 60 years old. Those subject to expulsion will have 30 days to leave Latvia if they fail…
The share of renewable sources in total energy consumption in the Baltic States was highest in Latvia in 2022, LSM reports. Eurostat data showed that 43.3% of Latvia’s gross final energy consumption came from renewable sources in 2022, which was up from 42.1% in 2021. Estonia came in second with 38.5% (37.4%), followed by Lithuania…
Six European gas transmission system operators, including Gasgrid Finland, Estonia’s Elering, Latvia’s Conexus Baltic Grid, Lithuania’s Amber Grid, Poland’s Gaz-System, and Germany’s ONTRAS, have signed a contract with AFRY Management Consulting for a pre-feasibility study on the Nordic-Baltic Hydrogen Corridor, The Baltic Times reports. The project aims to develop cross-border hydrogen transmission infrastructure from Finland…