Priority activities in Latvia’s welfare sector require budget funding of EUR 108.7mn in 2024, Welfare Minister Evika Silina stated, Baltic News Network reports. She noted that providing sufficient funding for the welfare sector was an investment into a “stable and well-off society.” Silina said that budget funding was needed for hospice care, child protection, support…
Latvia’s Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins (New Unity) plans to clarify the future of the current ruling coalition by the middle of August 2023, before the start of next year’s budget talks, LSM reports. Karins said that summer was a “time of silence,” and that he would use the time to ascertain whether the coalition government…
Estonia’s Defence Minister, Hanno Pevkur, voiced satisfaction at the details of NATO’s new defence plans for the Baltic region, ERR reports. He said that there were no outstanding points of contention regarding the plans ahead of the NATO summit in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius. Discussions continued over the wording of the introductory section of the…
NATO’s new defence plans for the Baltic region are “very good and detailed,” Latvia’s Defence Minister, Inara Murniece, stated, The Baltic Times reports. The new plans provide for allied defence of the region from day one of a possible attack. Murniece noted that the plans were drawn up 18 months ahead of schedule. However, executing…
Latvia’s Education Minister Anda Čakša (New Unity) refused to resign as demanded by the Latvian Trade Union of Education and Science Employees (LIZDA), LSM reports. She insisted that her actions as minister thus far had provided no grounds for such a demand. Čakša recognised the need to address the budgetary allocation for teacher salaries during…
The Latvian Trade Union of Education and Science Employees (LIZDA) has demanded the resignation of Education and Science Minister Anda Caksa by the end of the working day on 3 July 2023, DELFI reports. If the minister refuses to resign, LIZDA may take further action, potentially delaying the start of the new school year. The…
Tax revenue in Latvia totalled EUR 5.387bn in the first five months of 2023, which was EUR 600.9mn (12.6%) higher than in the same period of 2022, according to data from the Finance Ministry, LETA reported. Tax revenue thus exceeded the budget plan by EUR 166.4mn (3.2%). State tax revenue amounted to EUR 4.241bn (2.8%…
Lithuania has submitted a request to the European Commission, seeking a loan of over EUR 1.8bn from the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) for investments, Baltic News Network reports. Finance Minister Gintare Skaiste said that around EUR 1bn would be allocated for loans to businesses and industry, while an additional EUR 700mn would be…