Latvia: Transport Ministry under fire after Rail Baltica report

A report of the Latvian government’s internal review commission on the progress of the Rail Baltica railway project has revealed that the state-owned company, Eiropas Dzelzcela Linijas, failed to consult independent experts on important decisions, LETA and LSM reported. The commission report analysed two suspended construction projects on a railway bridge across the Daugava river…

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Estonia: No privatisation of four state firms

The Estonian government has decided not to privatise four state-owned energy, real estate, digital services, and lottery firms, ERR reports. The decision applies to four state-owned enterprises controlled by the Ministry of Finance: energy group Eesti Energia, state real estate manager Riigi Kinnisvara Aktsiaselts (RKAS), digital services company Levira, and lottery operator Eesti Loto. The…

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Estonia: Third power connection to Finland postponed

Estonia and Finland have postponed a decision on the construction of a third undersea electricity cable between the two countries until 2031, ERR reports. Kalle Kilk, CEO of Estonia’s state-owned transmission system operator, Elering, said that the timetable for the EstLink 3 project was pushed back at Finland’s request. Instead of the previously planned completion date of…

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Estonia: Turkish company to open ammo plant

Turkey’s ARCA Defense Industry will open an ammunition plant in Estonia’s Ida-Virumaa county, ERR reports. The new factory in Kiviõli will produce various types of ammunition, including artillery ammunition, mortar rounds, rockets, and shells, initially for export only. Estonia’s Defence Ministry said that the facility would begin producing ammunition for the Estonian Defence Forces in…

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Latvia: Russians, Belarusians sacked from critical infrastructure jobs

State-owned and municipal companies in Latvia involved in building or maintaining critical infrastructure have begun dismissing Russian and Belarusian citizens, LETA reports. Under amendments to the law on national security, Russian and Belarusian citizens may not be employed in jobs with access to critical infrastructure. Latvian capital Riga’s municipal water utility, Rigas Udens, has terminated…

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Latvia: 60 questioned in Rail Baltica criminal probe

Latvia’s Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) has questioned more than 60 people as part of a criminal investigation into the implementation of the Rail Baltica railway project, LETA reports. The Prosecutor General’s Office initiated criminal proceedings over possible unlawful actions by officials responsible for the project back in December 2024. The officials, including politicians,…

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Baltic: Estonia pushes Latvia on Rail Baltica

Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal urged Latvia to complete its part of the Rail Baltica railway by 2030 as agreed, ERR reported. Michal said that Estonia would “kindly pressure” Latvia with the help of EU funding. Earlier, Maris Dzelme, board chairman of Eiropas Dzelzcela Linijas (EDZL), which manages the construction project in Latvia, said that…

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