Retailers in Estonia expect declining sales in the first half of 2024 amid lower consumer confidence, ERR reports. Many consumers plan to go shopping in neighbouring countries due to the rise in the VAT rate from 20% to 22% as of 1 January 2024, according to a Norstat poll for Citadele bank, BNS reports. The…
Estonia’s former prime minister and former chairman of the Estonian Centre Party (Keskerakond), Jüri Ratas, expects more people to leave the opposition party, ERR reports. He said that the party’s new chairman, Tallinn’s Russian-speaking mayor Mihhail Kõlvart, has failed to ensure party unity, noting that most of those who have quit are Estonian-speakers. Earlier, two…
Estonia’s Ministry of Justice is considering granting the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority (TTJA) the power to order ISPs to block websites involved in copyright infringement, ERR reports. The ministry argues that existing legal means are insufficient for protecting copyright on digital platforms. The proposed solution involves DNS and IP-based blocking, allowing ISPs to…
Estonian President Alar Karis has vetoed amendments to the land tax act, which were passed by the Estonian parliament, the Riigikogu, in December 2023, ERR reports. The President asked the Supreme Court to declare the amendments unconstitutional. Karis said that he used his veto because the government linked the adoption of the amendments to a…
GPS systems in the Baltic Sea region, including Estonia, experienced disruptions attributed to Russia at the end of 2023, according to monitoring websites, ERR reports. Estonia witnessed major disruptions along its eastern border and in the south. The disruptions were traced back to Russia’s Leningrad region, with potential spillover into Estonian and neighbouring airspace, according…
Major General Veiko-Vello Palm, commander of the Estonian Division, highlighted the importance of acquiring long-range weapons, such as HIMARS systems, to enhance Estonia’s defence capabilities, ERR reported. He said that the focus on deep strikes and disrupting enemy supply lines had become crucial in countering potential threats. Palm acknowledged the need for continuous military growth,…
Estonia’s population totalled 1,373,101 people in the beginning of 2024, according to Statistics Estonia’s preliminary data, ERR reported. The country’s population thus increased by 4,184 people in 2023, including by 6,239 people in Harjumaa county and 2,025 people in Tartumaa county. The population decreased by 1,413 people in Ida-Virumaa county. Statistics Estonia will release more…
Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, who chairs the ruling Estonian Reform Party, expressed her will to remain as prime minister for four years, ERR reported. In an interview with Maaleht, Kallas said that she wanted to see the positive results of her government’s challenging decisions rather than just face criticism. Kallas dismissed rumours about running…
In his New Year address, Lauri Hussar, speaker of the Estonian parliament, the Riigikogu, outlined key challenges for Estonia in 2024, ERR reports. He emphasised the importance of transitioning to Estonian as the sole language of tuition in schools, viewing it as vital to preserving the country’s language and culture. Hussar urged unity in recognising…