The threat from Russia is and will remain real, and all NATO allies must understand and take it “extremely seriously,” Estonia’s Prime Minister, Kaja Kallas, stated, The Baltic Times reports. Speaking at the opening debate of a NATO conference in Vilnius, Kallas noted that all allies contributed 2% of GDP to defence in 1988 because…
The European Commission has granted EUR 6.8mn of financial support for Latvia’s agricultural sector, LSM reports. Latvia had requested EUR 11mn of EU aid. Agriculture Minister Didzis Smits noted that the support accorded to Latvia was proportionally the largest amount of aid granted. The support is intended for industries negatively impacted by the war in…
The foreign ministers of the eight Nordic and Baltic countries (NB8) have signed a joint declaration in support of Ukraine’s membership of the EU and NATO, ERR reports. The ministers stated that Ukraine’s future was within the “Euro-Atlantic family.” The declaration said that it was time to use the “Baltic experience of the 1990s” in…
Finland’s new defence minister, Antti Häkkänen, visited Estonia’s capital, Tallinn, to meet with his Estonian counterpart, Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur, on 6 July 2023, ERR reported. The two ministers discussed bilateral defence cooperation, regional security, the NATO summit in Vilnius, assistance to Ukraine, and EU defence support. Pevkur said that Finland’s accession to NATO opened…
The speakers of national parliaments of the Baltic States, Poland, and Ukraine will meet in Latvia’s capital, Riga, on 9-10 July 2023, LSM reports. The speakers will discuss political and practical assistance to Ukraine, including support for the country’s membership of the EU and NATO. The speakers plan to adopt a joint statement at the…
The Baltic States should disconnect from the Russian-controlled BRELL power grid and synchronise with the European system as planned by the end of 2025, Kalle Kilk, CEO of Estonia’s electricity transmission system operator, Elering, stated, Postimees reports. Kilk noted that Russia provided the Baltic States with grid balancing services. Disconnecting from the Russian grid now…
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office has appointed Lithuania’s Gedgaudas Norkunas as one of the EU prosecutors, the Justice Ministry announced, BNS reports. Previously, Norkunas served as a European delegated prosecutor. The new EU prosecutors will take up their posts on 29 July 2023 for a term in office of three years. Half of of the…
An analysis on the impact of EU financial support on Estonian firms revealed that while the subsidies led to higher sales revenues and wages, they did not significantly improve productivity, ERR reports. The study, conducted by researchers from the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga, examined data from 1,435 companies that received European Regional Development…
Finland’s NATO membership opens up new opportunities for defence and security cooperation between Estonia and Finland, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas stated, The Baltic Times reports. Speaking during Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s official visit to Estonia, Kallas said that Finland’s accession has bolstered NATO as a whole and the security of the Baltic Sea…