European news portal Politico ranked the performance of Lithuania’s EU commissioner, Virginijus Sinkevicius, highest of the three Baltic members of the outgoing European Commission, ERR reports. The outlet gave Sinkevicius, who served as the European Commissioner for Environment in 2019-2024, a score of A minus. Latvia’s Valdis Dombrovskis, who is staying on as EC Vice…
The finance committee of the Estonian parliament, the Riigikogu, has decided to cancel an additional 5% increase in the excise tax on alcohol that was planned for July 2025, ERR reports. Committee chairwoman Annely Akkermann said that the tax hike would have led to increased cross-border trade and grey market sales, thus reducing state budget…
The Estonian government may triple the country’s immigration quota, Minister of Economy and Industry Erkki Keldo announced, ERR reports. The current quota amounts to 1,303 people or 0.1% of Estonia’s permanent population per year. Keldo suggested that the quota could be raised to 2,600 people normally and to 3,900 people when annual GDP growth exceeds…
The unemployment rate in the Baltic States was lowest in Latvia in August 2024, according to Eurostat data, LETA reports. Latvia’s unemployment rate stood at 7.0%, compared to 7.9% in both Estonia and Lithuania. Average unemployment in the EU stood at 5.9% and at 6.4% in the eurozone.
Latvia’s total retail trade turnover rose by 0.8% on year in August 2024, according to the Central Statistical Bureau’s (CSP) calendar-adjusted data at constant prices, LSM reports. Retail sales of food products decreased by 4.6%, while retail sales of non-food products (excluding automotive fuel) increased by 5.0% and automotive fuel by 0.6% over a year….
Estonia’s retail trade turnover totalled EUR 889mn in August 2024, which was down 4% from the same period of 2023, according to data from Statistics Estonia, ERR reports. Retail sales of manufactured goods dropped by 4% and food products by 4% as well. Compared to July 2024, overall retail trade declined by 1%. According to…
Estonia ranks highest in the Baltic States on the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) Global Innovation Index, LSM reports. Estonia ranked 16th globally in 2024, which was unchanged from 2023. Lithuania’s ranking was 35th, which was down from 34th place a year earlier. Latvia ranked 42nd, which was down from 37th place in 2023. In…
The largest ever Latvian trade mission to the US concluded its visit on 26 September 2024, LSM reported. Economy Minister Viktors Valainis said that three major cooperation agreements were signed during the visit. Also, talks started on investments in sustainable energy, biomedicine, and infrastructure development, he added. Earlier, Valainis expected the trade mission to bring…
The Estonian government has dropped plans to impose a tax on sugary beverages, Prime Minister Kristen Michal announced, ERR reports. Health Minister Riina Sikkut said that she proposed withdrawing the proposal, noting that the coalition agreement only allowed new taxes to finance defence and security needs. Michal expressed hope that opinions on the matter would…