A group of six MPs from Estonia are paying a ten-day visit to China, with local accommodation and transportation costs paid for by Beijing, ERR reports. The delegation consists of members of the Estonia-China parliamentary friendship group and is headed by the group’s chairman, Toomas Kivimägi, deputy speaker of the Estonian parliament, the Riigikogu. Kivimägi…
Estonia’s unemployment rate stood at 7.6% in the second quarter of 2024, according to data from Statistics Estonia, Estonian World reports. The number of unemployed declined by 1,100 people over a quarter. Compared to the second quarter of 2023, the number of unemployed increased by 7,600, however. The employment rate stood at 69.7%, and the…
A group of Estonian MPs took part in the Central Tibetan Administration’s commemoration of the 64th Tibetan Democracy Day in India’s Dharamshala on 2 September 2024, Tibetan Review reported. The MPs are part of the Tibet Support Group of the Estonian parliament, the Riigikogu, led by Juku-Kalle Raid. The other delegates were Karmen Joller, Ester…
Estonia’s new ambassador to Kazakhstan, Jaap Ora, has presented copies of his credentials to Kazakhstan’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Alibek Kuantyrov, Kazinform reports. Welcoming the ambassador to Astana, Kuantyrov noted with satisfaction the progressive development of Kazakh-Estonian relations in the political, economic, and cultural-humanitarian spheres. The parties also discussed interaction within international organisations.
Estonia may need to raise its defence spending to 5% of GDP to implement NATO’s new defence plans, Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur stated, ERR reports. He said that Estonia clearly needed to acquire more capabilities, including air defence systems and equipment to deal with chemical and biological weapons. The money needed would amount to EUR…
Estonia’s new permanent representative to the EU is Kyllike Sillaste-Elling, ERR reports. Prior to her appointment, Sillaste-Elling served as deputy secretary general for political affairs at the Estonian Foreign Ministry. In 2017-2021, she was Estonia’s ambassador to NATO.
Police in Estonia have confiscated a copy of a controversial monument in Lihula commemorating Estonians who fought against the Soviet Union in World War II, ERR reports. The new monument was erected for an event to mark the 20th anniversary of the removal of the original monument in 2004. Police removed the new monument for…
Schools in Estonia have begun transitioning to education in Estonian under a plan approved by the country’s parliament, the Riigikogu, in December 2022, ERR reports. The transition will proceed gradually, with kindergartens and school grades one and four transitioning to fully Estonian education in 2024. Grades two and five will transition in 2025 and grade…
Estonia’s Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) has granted student visas to 646 foreigners for the academic year 2024/2025, ERR reports. Of the total, 65 are from China, 53 from the US, and 51 from Azerbaijan. PPA refused visas to 114 foreign students, including 28 from Nigeria, 22 from Pakistan, and 10 from India. The…