Estonia’s daily newspapers, Eesti Päevaleht and Postimees, strongly criticised in their editorials on 5 July 2023 the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority’s (TTJA) proposed legislation to monitor the truthfulness, impartiality, and balance of news programmes, ERR reports. Both editorials strongly rejected the notion of state intervention in media, emphasising the importance of media freedom…
Only 56% of legal entities in Estonia managed to submit their annual reports on time by the 30 June 2023 deadline, according to the Ministry of Justice, BNS reports. Out of approximately 290,000 entities obligated to report, which make up about 95% of all legal entities, altogether 162,689 submitted their reports on time. Margit Veskimäe,…
For the first time since the restoration of independence, the number of prisoners in Estonia has dropped below 2,000, BNS reports. There are now a total of 1,994 prisoners in Estonian prisons, with 202 of them serving sentences in open prisons. The number of offenders under the supervision of probation officers on a daily basis…
Following the imposition of sanctions on Russian timber, Estonia has seen a surge in heavy timber imports from unexpected countries, where forests are assumed to be scarce, Postimees reports. Henrik Välja, CEO of the Estonian Forest and Wood Industries Association (EMPL), said that Russian timber continued to flow into Estonia through an illegal scheme whereby…
Strong winds and high waves disrupted ferry services to Estonia’s smaller islands on 3 July 2023, BNS reported. Ferry operator Kihnu Veeteed cancelled departures of the Kihnu Virve and Soela passenger ferries were cancelled during the day. Also, the Ormsö passenger ferry did not accept heavy vehicles on the Sviby-Rohuküla route.
Estonia’s Ministry of Justice is undertaking efforts to improve the clarity and transparency of electronic voting rules, aligning them with the guidelines provided by the Supreme Court, BNS reports. The changes will elevate e-voting documentation to a higher decision-making level. Previously, the responsibility for the documentation largely rested with the National Electoral Committee and the…
The Estonian State Fleet (Riigilaevastik), responsible for managing vessels previously owned by multiple state agencies and enterprises, began full operations on 1 July 2023, Postimees reports. The State Fleet has nearly 300 vessels under management. The agency will manage watercraft and floating markings, icebreaking operations, and pilot services. Climate Minister Kristen Michal said that the…
Around half of Estonian residents plan to go on vacation abroad in summer 2023, according to a survey by insurance firm If Kindlustus, BNS reports. Around 20% of respondents intend to go on vacation in a neighbouring country, while some 25% will travel farther away, including 7% to a holiday destination outside Europe. Meanwhile, 41%…
Sales of non-alcoholic beers have soared in Estonia over the past five years, Postimees reports. Kristiina Tamberg, head of communications and CSR at Prisma Peremarket, said that the market of non-alcoholic beers has been on an upward trend for several years. Sales of alcohol-free beers increased by 20% in 2021 and by another 8% in…
