Latvia’s Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP) issued 19,900 temporary residence permits to non-EU nationals who invested in the Latvian economy in the period from 1 July 2010 to the end of 2024, LETA reported. According to the Ministry of Economy, the so-called golden visa programme was “an important instrument” for attracting foreign capital…
Estonia’s incumbent president, Alar Karis, said that he would indicate by July 2026 if he wants to run for a second term, ERR reports. Speaking in an interview with Vikerraadio, Karis noted that there was still several months until the election in September 2026, and that candidates could only be nominated in early July 2026….
Over 500 experts and decision-makers from across the Baltic Sea region will attend the 17th Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR) in the Estonian capital, Tallinn, on 11-13 May 2026, BNS reports. The central theme of this year’s forum is resilience. The conference participants will discuss regional security and…
Latvia’s Central Election Commission (CVK) has registered a signature campaign for holding a referendum on changing the country’s state-funded pension system, LSM reports. The populist opposition party, Latvia First (LPV), initiated the referendum campaign after the Latvian parliament, the Saeima, rejected the party’s legislative proposal. The referendum campaign is very unlikely to succeed, however. Under…
Authorities in the Baltic States are preparing for possible provocations on 9 May 2026, when Russians celebrate the Soviet Union’s victory in World War II and occupation of central and eastern Europe. Authorities in the Russian border town of Ivangorod (Jaanilinn) will hold another propaganda concert on the banks of the Narva river for the…
Lithuania should not rule out dialogue with neighbouring Belarus, Mindaugas Sinkevicius, chairman of the ruling Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP), stated, BNS reports. He suggested that contacts between deputy ministers could be possible, particularly if they take place at US invitation. Sinkevicius highlighted the release of political prisoners and the lifting of some sanctions after…
Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina sharply criticised Defence Minister Andris Spruds after drones from Russia crashed in Latvian territory, LETA reported. Silina pointed to the lack of timely warning to local residents about the incoming drones. The government’s EUR 2bn defence budget means that people will expect accountability from the minister, she stated. Silina said…
The Estonian government has issued EUR 1bn worth of bonds to cover the state budget deficit and to provide more liquidity, ERR reports. The bonds mature in May 2036 and carry a yield to maturity of 3.609%. More than 100 investors, mostly banks, pension funds, and European investment funds, subscribed to over EUR 2.2bn in…
The Council of Europe’s advisory body on constitutional law, the Venice Commission, urged the Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, to improve draft amendments to the law governing the country’s public broadcaster, Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT), BNS reports. The commission said that the draft law may violate the European Convention on Human Rights and the…