Lithuania is “not taking either side” in the dispute over Greenland’s sovereignty, Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys stated, BNS reports. Earlier, US President Donald Trump threatened to take control of the island by force. Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark. Budrys noted that Lithuania, Denmark, and the US were “all allies, bound by both long-standing…
Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics plans to propose lowering the threshold for holding public referendums on legislative changes, LSM reports. Rinkevics discussed the issue with Prime Minister Evika Silina and leaders of parliamentary groups, LETA reported. He will invite constitutional experts to join the discussions. Edmunds Jurevics, leader of New Unity’s parliamentary group, and Harijs Rokpelnis,…
Estonia’s Ministry of Interior expects the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (MPEÕK) to leave the jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Church before summer 2025, ERR reports. Earlier, the ministry submitted a draft legislative amendment to the Estonian parliament, the Riigikogu, which would ban religious associations directed by countries that threaten Estonia’s public order,…
Latvia’s general government deficit totalled EUR 849.6mn in 2024, according to the methodology of the European System of Accounts (ESA 2010), the Ministry of Finance announced, LETA reports. The deficit amounted to 2.1% of GDP, which was 0.3 percentage points lower than in 2023. The general government debt totalled EUR 19bn at the end of…
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda does not expect the country’s three-party coalition government to survive, BNS reports. Earlier, Remigijus Zemaitaitis, chairman of the far-right Dawn of Nemunas party, expressed doubts about raising defence spending and labelled Ukraine a corrupt country, LRT reported. Speaking in an interview with Verslo Zinios, Nauseda accused Zemaitaitis of discrediting “not only…
German aviation group Lufthansa Group will become a strategic investor in Latvia’s national air carrier, airBaltic, LSM reports. Under the deal, Lufthansa will acquire 10% of shares in airBaltic for EUR 14mn. The group plans to close the deal in the second quarter of 2025, subject to regulatory approval. The shares will be converted into…
The Latvian parliament, the Saeima, has passed in final reading amendments further limiting alcohol sales and advertising as of 1 August 2025, LSM reports. Under the amendments, the sale of alcoholic beverages will be permitted from 10am to 8pm on Monday to Saturday and from 10am to 6pm on Sunday, thus reducing the availability of…
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda’s chief foreign policy adviser, Asta Skaisgiryte, urged against making “hasty steps” in withdrawing from the Ottawa Treaty banning anti-personnel mines, BNS reports. Speaking in an interview with Ziniu Radijas, Skaisgiryte called for a regional solution on the issue. She supported a collective withdrawal from the treaty by NATO’s eastern flank or…
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys called for a “strong and decisive” response to attacks on critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, BNS reports. Speaking during a meeting with Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics in Riga, Budrys urged to expand NATO patrols, impose sanctions on Russia’s shadow fleet, and revise navigation rules in the Baltic Sea. Meanwhile,…