NATO allies agree that Ukraine will become a member of the defence alliance, but first it must win the war against Russia, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated, LRT reports. Speaking after a meeting with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda in Vilnius, Stoltenberg said that it was “too early to talk about concrete decisions and concrete…
Estonia’s exports of goods totalled EUR 1.6bn at current prices in May 2023, which was down 15% from the same period of 2022, according to data from Statistics Estonia, ERR reports. Exports of goods of Estonian origin fell by 21% and accounted for 65% (69%) of total exports. Overall imports totalled EUR 1.9bn, which was…
Canada’s first ambassador to Lithuania, Jeanette Sautner, has taken office on 10 July 2023 after presenting her diplomatic credentials to President Gitanas Nauseda, BNS reports. Nauseda said that the opening of the Canadian embassy in Vilnius would open new opportunities to further strengthen bilateral relations. He thanked Canada for its contribution to strengthening the security…
Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, is visiting Latvia on 10 July 2023 en route to the NATO summit in Lithuania’s capital, Vilnius, LSM reports. He will meet with several Latvian officials and hold a joint press conference with Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins. Trudeau promised to more than double the size of Canada’s contribution to…
NATO leaders and delegations have begun gathering in Lithuania’s capital, Vilnius, for the defence alliance’s summit due to take place on 11-12 July 2023, BNS reports. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda will meet with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the summit venue, the Lithuanian Exhibition and Congress Centre (LITEXPO), on 10 July 2023. Also, Nauseda…
Lithuania and Poland need to increase their cooperation to speed up the synchronisation of the Baltic electricity grids with the European system, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda stated, BNS reports. Also, the two countries needed to accelerate the implementation of the Via Baltica highway, the Augustow-Alytus road, and the Rail Baltica railway projects, Nauseda said. Speaking…
Despite diplomatic tensions, buses between Lithuania’s capital, Vilnius, and the Belarusian capital, Minsk, are running at full capacity, LRT reports. Buses remain the only form of public transport between Lithuania and Belarus, as train services have remained suspended since the start of the coronavirus pandemic and Lithuania’s airspace is closed to Belarusian aircraft. Moreover, Lithuania…
The European Commission’s latest rule of law report urges Estonia to adopt legislation to improve the regulation of political party financing, BNS reports. The report raises concern that there are no transparent and objective rules on the financing of civil society organisations by the Estonian parliament, the Riigikogu, from the state budget. Also, the report…
Due to a budgeting mistake, Estonia’s Ministry of Education and Research will have insufficient funds to finance the transition to Estonian-language education in Russian-language schools in 2024 and beyond, ERR reports. The former government allocated the same amount of funds (EUR 41mn) for switching to Estonian-language tuition for each year in 2024-2026 as for September-December…