A public petition in Latvia is collecting signatures for a ban on the Chinese social media network, TikTok, LSM reports. The author of the initiative, Arturs Babuskins, stated that the social media application was used to “glorify Russian crimes, incite hatred, and divide society.” Moreover, the petition cites data security concerns. Public petitions need at…
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda was inaugurated as president for a second term on 12 July 2024, LRT reports. In his inaugural address, Nauseda pledged to strengthen national security, defend Lithuanian interests in foreign policy, continue supporting Ukraine, and foster ties with the US. He called for raising Lithuania’s defence budget to 4% of GDP by…
Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas has submitted her resignation to President Alar Karis, ERR reports. Kallas will also resign from her post as chairperson of the Estonian Reform Party. Earlier, she was nominated as the EU’s foreign policy chief. Kallas will remain acting head of the government until the new coalition is sworn into office, which…
Estonian Finance Minister Mart Võrklaev suggested floating the company coordinating the Rail Baltica railway project, RB Rail, on the stock exchange to raise more funds amidst rising construction costs, ERR reports. Construction costs in Estonia alone are estimated at EUR 3.1bn, with EUR 1.2bn secured from EU funding. Võrklaev said that the government expected to have…
The Latvian government has approved an updated national energy and climate plan, aimed at meeting the EU’s climate targets by 2030, LSM reports. The plan outlines five key areas: decarbonisation and renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy security, integration with the EU’s internal energy markets, and research, innovation, and competitiveness. The plan includes around 250 measures…
Estonia’s incoming ruling coalition has agreed to implement budget cuts across all ministries, including defence and interior affairs, ERR reports. Margus Tsahkna, chairman of Estonia 200, said that each ministry would likely face a percentage-based cut to salaries and management costs, and that no new jobs would be created. The coalition plans to extend the…
The Baltic power transmission system operators (TSO) will notify Russia and Belarus about their decision to withdraw from the so-called BRELL agreement and the Moscow-controlled IPS/UPS transmission system in the coming weeks, Lithuania’s Ministry of Energy announced, BNS reports. The Baltic TSOs are fully ready to synchronise their power grids with the continental European system…
NATO allies agree that the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) should manage the rotation of air-defence systems in the Baltic region, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda stated, BNS reports. He said that political leaders of individual countries need not travel to different capitals and request anti-air defence systems. The NATO summit in Vilnius agreed in 2023…
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has formally proposed that the parliament, the Seimas, denounce the Convention on Cluster Munitions, BNS reports. The Office of the President argued that current international legal restrictions limited Lithuania’s defence capabilities and reduced the effectiveness of deterrence. Lithuania and Norway are the only NATO member states sharing a border with Russia…