Latvia’s Minister of Environmental Protection and Regional Development, Inga Berzina, has proposed renaming the ministry to the Ministry of Nature Protection and Regional Development, LETA reports. Earlier, environmental services were transferred to the Ministry of Climate and Energy. Berzina said that the name change could be implemented after the distribution of functions in July 2024….
The Estonian government has approved draft legislation to introduce an annual car tax and a vehicle registration fee, ERR reports. Under the plan, the new law will enter into force as of 2025. The amount of the car tax and the registration fee will depend on the vehicle’s emissions and age as well as weight…
The Estonian government has decided to terminate the country’s legal assistance agreement with Russia, ERR reports. The agreement mostly applies to cases under family and commercial law. The decision will lower judicial cooperation with Russia to the same level as with other third countries. Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna noted that the legal assistance treaty was…
Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas may succeed Josep Borrell as the EU’s next foreign policy chief, Politico reports. Kallas leads the Estonian Reform Party, which is part of the liberal Renew Europe group in the European Parliament. However, she could face some resistance due to her tough stance on Russia, Politico suggested. Earlier, Kallas argued…
The Presidium of the Baltic Assembly has demanded “immediate efforts in Europe” to ensure total victory for Ukraine in the war against Russia, LSM reported. In their statement, the Baltic parliamentarians insisted that support for Ukraine must be “continuous, sufficient, timely, and far-sighted.” They warned other European parliaments not to underestimate the long-term impact on…
The West must take care of its own security instead of worrying about Russia’s future, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis stated, BNS reported. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Landsbergis pointed to “increasingly louder concerns” about Russia’s future in the West. He insisted that Russia has to solve its own problems, and that…
Estonia’s Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) has refused to extend the residence permit of Metropolitan Eugene (Valery Reshetnikov) of the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, ERR reports. The head of the Russian church in Estonia will therefore have to leave the country by 6 February 2024. Despite repeated warnings, Reshetnikov has continued…
The Baltic States support banning the import of grain from Russia and Belarus into the EU, according to the Lithuanian Transport Minister, Marius Skuodis, BNS reports. He discussed the issue with Latvian Transport Minister Kaspars Briskens and Estonian Climate Minister Kristen Michal. The ministers agreed to coordinate actions and avoid national initiatives. Earlier, Skuodis noted…
Russian President Vladimir Putin has increased efforts to create the information conditions for a future escalation against the Baltic States, according to the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW), LRT reports. Putin asserted that Latvia’s moves to expel Russian citizens “directly affected Russia’s security.” Earlier, Latvia’s Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP)…