The three Baltic States have joined eight other European countries in calling on the EU to impose tighter restrictions on visas for Russian citizens, ERR reports. The joint letter from the foreign and interior ministers of nine EU member states, Norway, and Iceland stated that “Russians should not be sunning themselves on European beaches while…
Lithuania has joined France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain in urging the EU to take tougher measures against abusive trade practices by China and other countries, Politico reports. The non-paper noted that some of the EU’s main trading partners were imposing new trade barriers and contributing to industrial overcapacity. The document proposed quicker and easier…
Latvian artists have launched a protest campaign against Russia’s participation in the Venice Biennale arts exhibition in Italy, Ukrainska Pravda reports. The campaign, “Death in Venice”, was organised by the Latvian Centre for Contemporary Art (LLMC) together with the Latvian national pavilion at the exhibition. The Latvian artists stressed that institutional neutrality in relation to…
Estonian President Alar Karis assured that Estonia’s foreign policy remained united despite criticism of his comments on the war in Ukraine, ERR reports. Earlier, Karis expressed support for appointing a special EU envoy for peace talks with Russia and suggested that Ukraine cede territory to end the war. Speaking on the sidelines of the opening…
The Lithuanian fish processing company, Port Lite, has invested EUR 80mn in a new salmon processing plant in the Latvian port city of Liepaja, Baltic News Network reports. Sigitas Ambrazevicius, founder and owner of Port Lite, said that the 15,000 m2 plant would process around 25,000 tonnes of salmon per year. The company will sell…
Lithuania is interested in the possible use of next-generation small modular reactor (SMR) nuclear technology, Energy Minister Dainius Kreivys announced, BNS reports. He suggested that such reactors could use spent and recycled fuel from Lithuania’s decommissioned Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant (IAE). The minister was speaking after a meeting with the Italian nuclear technology company, newcleo….
Lithuania’s State Data Protection Inspectorate (VDAI) has imposed a fine of EUR 2.39mn on the local online marketplace for second-hand goods, Vinted, for violating consumer data protection laws, BNS reports. The fine follows complaints from French and Polish supervisory authorities and pertains to breaches of the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Vinted was found…
Latvia plans to build a new factory producing modular powder charges for artillery ammunition in Iecava parish, LETA reports. The factory will have a production capacity of 50,000 charges annually. The plant is expected to begin operations in 2026. The project will cost an estimated EUR 12mn, with EUR 1mn to come from EU co-financing…
Latvian Defence Minister Andris Spruds expressed scepticism about the idea of creating an “EU army,” LSM reported. Latvia’s position was that NATO was irreplaceable and constituted the cornerstone of European security, Spruds stated. He pointed out that NATO united most EU countries as well as non-EU countries, insisting that there was no need to duplicate…