A majority of Estonians oppose foreign labour, according to a Norstat poll for the Institute for Societal Research (YI), ERR reports. The survey shows that 71% of respondents oppose and 19% support bringing in labour from outside the EU, while 52% oppose and 37% support labour from other EU countries. Also, 76% of respondents think…
Estonian capital Tallinn’s city council has approved the city budget for 2026, ERR reports. Total revenues are planned at EUR 1.2bn, including EUR 781.2mn from personal income tax, EUR 188.3mn in state and other grants, EUR 112.4mn from the sale of goods and services, EUR 36.4mn from land tax, and EUR 9.5mn from external funding….
Gross domestic expenditure on research and development (R&D) in relation to GDP in the Baltic States was highest in Estonia in 2024, according to Eurostat data, LSM reports. R&D spending amounted to 1.99% of GDP in Estonia in 2024, which was up from 1.41% in 2014. Meanwhile, R&D expenditure stood at 1.04% (1.03%) of GDP…
Latvian universities will begin switching to spring admission for new students, LSM reports. In 2026, around half of all institutions of higher education in Latvia will accept students into some study programmes in spring instead of summer, according to Andris Teikmanis, chairman of the Council of Higher Education (AIP). Previously, admission to universities began in…
The Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, has approved the state budget for 2026 with 80 votes for, 39 against, and 7 abstentions, BNS reports. Under the budget, annual revenues, including EU funds, will amount to EUR 21.07bn and expenditures to EUR 27.51bn. The government’s net borrowing limit has been increased to EUR 7.79bn, ELTA reports. The…
The number of job vacancies in Estonia totalled 9,375 in the third quarter of 2025, which was 5.4% less than in the same period of 2024, according to data from Statistics Estonia, ERR reports. The number of vacancies was the highest in education (2,025) and in wholesale and retail trade (1,264). The vacancy rate stood…
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…
Estonia’s Minister of Economy and Industry, Erkki Keldo, has approved a national action plan to broaden equal opportunities and protections for LGBTIQ people, ERR reports. The plan sets goals to ensure that everyone in Estonia has equal opportunity to live a full, supported, and inclusive life, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or…
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…
