The Latvian government will have to relinquish its controlling stake in the national air carrier, airBaltic, “sooner or later,” Prime Minister Evika Silina said, LETA reports. The government wants airBaltic to operate more on market principles, she stated. If airBaltic’s planned IPO fails, the government will make a “separate decision” on the company’s future, Silina…
Estonia was “very disappointed” that Mongolia decided to welcome Russian President Vladimir Putin, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said, BNS reports. He reminded that all parties to the Rome Statute are obligated to comply with the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Putin. The fact that the Mongolian government decided to…
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,”…