EU leaders have appointed Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas as the next High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, BNS reports. Kallas expressed her commitment to enhancing EU unity and addressing geopolitical challenges such as the war in Ukraine. She aims to strengthen the EU’s global partnerships and work closely with…
The minimum gross monthly wage in Lithuania may exceed EUR 1,000 in 2025, Social Security and Labour Minister Monika Navickiene forecast, BNS reported. Speaking in an interview with Ziniu Radijas, Navickiene assured that the minimum wage would definitely surpass the poverty risk threshold. Lithuania’s Tripartite Council is still in talks on the minimum wage hike…
Latvia’s tax revenue totalled EUR 3.325bn in the first quarter of 2024, which was EUR 40.7mn (1.2%) less than planned, according to Finance Ministry data, LETA reports. Tax revenue was EUR 109.2mn (3.4%) higher than in the first quarter of 2023, however. General state budget tax revenues totalled EUR 3.126bn, which was 1.1% short of…
The free world must not fear its own strength, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas insisted, BNS reported. Speaking at a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, Kallas pointed out that the free world was stronger than Russia and had the resources, economic power, and knowledge to help Ukraine win the war against the…
The number of eligible voters in Lithuania’s presidential election and dual citizenship referendum on 12 May 2024 totals 2,385,234, which is almost 100,000 (4%) less than five years ago, according to the Central Electoral Commission (VRK), BNS reports. Revoking the current ban on dual citizenship will require the support of more than 50% of all…
An agreement on the automatic recognition of degrees of higher education between the Benelux and Baltic countries came into effect as of 1 May 2024, BNS reports. The agreement facilitates academic mobility and promotes university cooperation between the six countries. The agreement attests that the quality of national higher education systems is reliable.
Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics expressed pride and happiness on the 34th anniversary of the restoration of Latvia’s independence, LETA reported. He noted that a new generation had since grown up that only learned about authoritarianism in history books. However, Rinkevics reminded that freedom was not self-evident. He thanked the members of Latvia’s Supreme Council who…
The prime ministers of the three Baltic States will meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on 6 May 2024 in the Latvian capital, Riga, LETA reports. The meeting will focus on security and defence, EU affairs, support for Ukraine, economic cooperation, and regional energy and transport projects. According to Latvia’s State Chancellery, Baltic leaders have…
Estonia’s GDP dropped by 2.1% in the first quarter of 2024, compared to the same period of 2023, according to Statistics Estonia’s flash estimate, Baltic News Network reported. The GDP decline thus slowed down, the preliminary data showed. Compared to the fourth quarter of 2023, the seasonally and working-day adjusted GDP remained unchanged.