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…
Latvian metal processing company EMJ Metals has started cooperation with Finnish military vehicle manufacturer Patria, LSM reports. EMJ Metals manufactures metal sheet parts and APC bodies. The company invested EUR 3mn in equipment and renovating its production facility to enable cooperation with manufacturers in other countries. Latvian companies are now cooperating with 10 large global…
Latvia’s national airline, airBaltic, carried around 4.5mn passengers in 2023, which was 36% more than in 2022, according to preliminary data, LETA reports. The carrier operated over 44,000 flights, which was 18% more than a year earlier. The company offered direct flights on over 100 routes from bases in Riga, Vilnius, Tallinn, Tampere, and Gran…
The Latvian parliament, the Saeima, has approved amendments raising the smoking age limit from 18 to 20 years as of 1 January 2025, LSM reports. The law covers cigarettes, tobacco products, herbal smoking items, electronic smoking devices, and refill containers. Violations can result in fines of EUR 280-700 for individuals and EUR 700-7,100 for legal…
The chairmen of the foreign affairs committees of the Baltic parliaments, Estonia’s Marko Mihkelson, Latvia’s Rihards Kols, and Lithuania’s Zygimantas Pavilionis, praised Taiwan’s presidential and legislative elections held on 13 January 2023, LSM reports. In a joint statement, they said that the elections demonstrated the strength of Taiwan’s “robust democratic system,” saying that the country…
Housing prices more than tripled in Estonia between 2010 and the third quarter of 2023, rising by 210%, according to Eurostat data, LSM reports. Meanwhile, housing prices more than doubled in Lithuania (up 158%) and Latvia (up 141%) over the same period. The increase in rents was the EU’s highest in Estonia (up 218%) and…
Latvia’s Foreign Minister, former prime minister Krisjanis Karins, would like to become a European Commissioner if he fails to win the race for the post of Secretary General of NATO, LETA reports. Latvia’s ruling New Unity party has yet to decide whether to name Karins or Latvia’s current EU commissioner, Valdis Dombrovskis, to top the…
Latvia will support Ukraine until total victory, Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics vowed, LSM reported. Speaking at a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Riga, Rinkevics called for shifting the strategic focus. “We have to support Ukraine until complete victory, not, like some say, as long as necessary,” he stated. Complete victory means…
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has concluded a two-day official visit to the three Baltic States. At a press conference with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, Zelensky said that his visit underscored the “shared trust” between nations in Russia’s neighbourhood, BNS reported. Speaking to a large crowd outside the Presidential Palace in Vilnius, Zelensky said that Russia…