Lithuanian teenagers continue to smoke and drink less, according to a new European school survey, LRT reports. Also, cannabis use among minors in Lithuania is now lowest in 20 years. At the same time, the misuse of over-the-counter and prescription medications, especially sedatives and sleeping pills, among teenagers has increased markedly. Also, electronic cigarettes remain…
The supervisory council of Estonia’s public broadcaster, Eesti Rahvusringhääling (ERR), has dismissed its long-term chairman, Rein Veidemann, ERR reports. Earlier, Veidemann had criticised an interview of a same-sex couple with two children that was aired on ETV, saying that the programme ran counter to the values of the majority of Estonians. ERR’s supervisory council elected…
Estonia does not support banning young people from accessing social media, Estonia’s Justice and Digital Affairs Minister, Liisa Pakosta, announced, ERR reports. Earlier, the European Parliament proposed setting an EU-wide age limit on social media platforms. Under the plan, children could use social media from the age of 13 with parental consent and independently from…
The Latvian parliament, the Saeima, has approved in final reading the state budget for 2026, LSM reports. Altogether 52 MPs voted for and 42 against the budget bill. This is the current coalition government’s third budget. The government foresees annual revenues of EUR 16.1bn, which would be EUR 944.6mn more than in 2025. Budget expenditures…
The Latvian parliament, the Saeima, has approved in final reading draft laws accompanying the state budget for 2026, LETA reports. MPs will now begin discussing the draft budget. The government’s budget priorities are national security, support for families with children, and high-quality education. Revenues are planned at EUR 16.1bn and expenditures at EUR 17.9bn. The…
Latvia’s Consumer Rights Protection Centre (PTAC) may take the electronic moped rental company, Ride, to court for its refusal to suspend operations as ordered, LSM reports. Earlier, PTAC told Ride to halt its rental service after two teenagers riding the company’s vehicle died in a traffic accident in Riga. Linda Rinkule, deputy director of PTAC,…
Latvia’s Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS) has called on its coalition partner, New Unity, to support withdrawing from the Council of Europe’s Istanbul Convention on combating violence against women and domestic violence, LETA reports. ZZS argued that a case of alleged inappropriate behaviour by a foreign worker towards a minor in Liepaja demonstrated that…
Latvia’s Consumer Rights Protection Centre (PTAC) will fine the electronic moped rental company, Ride, for failing to suspend operations as requested, LETA reports. PTAC told Ride to suspend operations after two teenage girls riding the company’s moped died when they were hit by a train in Riga. The consumer rights authority concluded that Ride had…
Latvia’s Consumer Rights Protection Centre (PTAC) has suspended the operations of the electronic moped rental company, Ride, following an accident resulting in the deaths of two teenage girls in Riga, LSM reports. The company insisted that the decision was unjustified and said it was considering a legal challenge. PTAC suspended the service to prevent minors…