Türkiye’s application to join the BRICS group undermines trust in the country, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis stated, BNS reports. He pointed to questions on how to reconcile positions within NATO between countries that support Ukraine and those that are pro-Russian. “All this undermines trust,” he added. Meanwhile, Asta Skaisgiryte, chief foreign policy adviser to…
The Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, has approved the nomination of former prime minister, MEP Andrius Kubilius for Lithuania’s EU commissioner, BNS reports. Altogether 70 MPs voted in favour and 24 against, while 15 abstained. Kubilius said that Lithuania should seek portfolios related to defence, security, and EU enlargement in the new European Commission. He noted…
The Estonian-Finnish undersea power cable, EstLink 2, will resume operations after repairs on 4 September 2024, BNS reports. The power interconnection was shut down due to a fault in late January 2024. The repairs involved replacing around 300 metres of cable and connection joints. Shore reinforcement and surface works and removal of temporary structures will…
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna urged Western countries to lift all restrictions on Ukraine’s use of Western weapons in the war with Russia, ERR reports. “Ukraine cannot fight with its hands tied behind its back and yet win this war,” he stated. Also, he called for caution over various “peace initiatives” to end the war,…
The Estonian government will impose a lower ceiling on parental benefits and a cap on sickness benefits as of 2026, ERR reports. The government will reduce the maximum rate for parental benefits from the current three times the average wage to twice the average wage. The cut will affect around 3,500 people annually, or about…
Latvia’s State Digital Development Agency (VDAA), which was formerly called the State Regional Development Agency (VRAA), has picked Jorens Liopa as its new director as of 4 October 2024, LSM reports. Currently, Liopa is director of the department of information systems and technologies at Latvia’s Court Administration and head of the inter-institutional electronic case (e-case)…
Israeli President Isaac Herzog has postponed his planned visit to Lithuania amid further tensions in the Middle East, Asta Skaisgiryte, chief foreign policy adviser to Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, announced, BNS reports. Speaking in an interview with Ziniu Radijas, Skaisgiryte said that Lithuania wanted the situation in the Middle East to “calm down a bit,”…
People in Estonia are getting married at an ever later age, according to data from Statistics Estonia, ERR reports. In 2023, just 24% of men and 34% of women were under 30 years old when they got married, compared to 60-70% in 1993. Meanwhile, 51% of newly married men and 46% of women were 30-44…
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis criticised Mongolia for the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to the country, BNS reports. Landsbergis said that Mongolia’s refusal to arrest Putin despite the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest warrant was “another crack in the system based on international law.” The ICC issued the arrest warrant on Putin over…
