Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal has submitted his government’s draft state budget for 2025 and budget strategy for 2025-2028 to the country’s parliament, the Riigikogu, ERR reports. According to the Ministry of Finance, budget expenses and investments will increase by 3.8% to EUR 19.1bn and revenues by 5.2% to EUR 17.7bn in 2025, ERR reported….
The Lithuanian government has launched a pilot scheme to combat the use of narcotics and smoking in schools, LRT reports. Seven schools in Vilnius, Klaipeda, and Alytus will take part in the pilot programme, placing students under closer surveillance. The aim is to develop a joint response plan to prevent drug use and smoking. The…
The Latvian government is discussing possible changes to second-tier pension funds, LETA reports. The Latvian parliament, the Saeima, will consider a public initiative opposing the government’s plan to reduce automatic second-tier pension contributions, LSM reports. The petition collected the necessary signatures in record short time. The government has proposed transferring 1% of second-pillar pension funds…
Estonia will chair the Freedom Online Coalition (FOC) in 2025, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna announced, ERR reports. He said that Estonia’s primary objective would be to share its know-how in building an e-state. Also, Estonia’s chairmanship would focus on values of openness, transparency, access to information, and inclusion, Tsahkna added. The FOC is a group…
The Latvian government plans to raise taxes on fuel, harmful beverages, tobacco, and gambling, LETA reports. Under the plan, the excise tax on fuel will amount to EUR 10 per tonne of CO2 in 2025 and to EUR 20 per tonne in 2026. The excise duty on sugary non-alcoholic beverages will rise from the current…
The Lithuanian Armed Forces (LGP) will equip all its units with first-person view (FPV) drones, Defence Minister Laurynas Kasciunas announced, BNS reports. LGP will create a “drone ecosystem” of various types of air and naval combat drones. Kasciunas said that Lithuania planned to open several new production lines for maritime drones by 2025. The government…
Several ministries in Estonia have criticised the Ministry of Climate’s proposed new climate law, ERR reports. The ministries argued that the bill’s structure and purpose were unclear, and that the bill failed to define the rights and obligations under the proposed law. Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets and Justice Minister Liisa Pakosta said that the bill…
The Latvian government plans to raise the personal income tax (PIT) for those with high income in 2025, LETA reports. Under the plan, the government will introduce an additional 3% PIT rate for those with income of over EUR 200,000 per year. The additional tax will apply to all taxable income, including capital gains. At…
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said that he would urge the foreign minister of the next government to conduct an audit at the Foreign Ministry, BNS reports. Nauseda said that he would recommend that the ministry carry out a financial and a comprehensive performance audit. He implied that there may have been improprieties in the competition…