The Estonian government has failed to include a project to open a regular passenger train connection between Tartu and the Latvian capital, Riga, in its long-term budget plans for 2025-2027, ERR reports. The government points to concerns about a competing Latvian proposal that would entail lower costs but less convenient departure times. Nevertheless, the government…
Teachers in Estonia began a nationwide strike on 22 January 2024 to press for higher pay, ERR reports. The Estonian Education Personnel Union (EHL) said that altogether 9,471 teachers at 330 general education schools were taking part in the strike. The number of strikers will almost double to 18,176 when kindergarten and vocational school teachers…
The Estonian Education Personnel Union (EHL) has called an open-ended general strike of education workers for 22 January 2024, ERR reports. Around 2,800 teachers in Tallinn will participate in the strike and another 500 in a sympathy strike. Meanwhile, teachers in Tartu will not take part in the general strike as they have signed a…
Passenger rail service from Estonia’s second-largest city, Tartu, to the Latvian capital, Riga, could begin in the second half of 2025, according to Estonian passenger rail operator Elron, LETA reports. Latvia’s passenger train operator, Pasazieru Vilciens (Vivi), has proposed opening a rail link from Riga to Tartu in spring 2025. Latvia’s Transport Minister, Kaspars Briskens,…
Around 40 people have left the Estonian Centre Party (Keskerakond) after the election of Tallinn mayor Mihhail Kõlvart as the party’s new chairman, ERR reports. The number of resignations may increase later. The Centre Party has over 13,000 registered members. The high-profile people who have left the party include former Tartu mayor and minister Jaan…
The municipal government of Estonia’s second-largest city, Tartu, is considering introducing new time restrictions on the sale of alcoholic beverages, ERR reports. The city council will discuss possible restrictions in October 2023. In spring 2023, the municipality agreed with most nightclubs in the city to close their doors half an hour earlier in summer. However,…
The average gross monthly salary in job advertisements in Estonia amounted to EUR 1,481-1,947 in the first half of 2023, which was 13% higher than in 2022, according to data from recruitment portal CV Keskus, Postimees reports. The average salary offered for top specialists and middle managers stood at EUR 2,170-2,728 (up 17%), for mid-level…
The Estonian Centre for Defence Investment (RKIK) of the Ministry of Defence has called for tenders for the purchase of mobile field hospitals for an estimated EUR 150mn, BNS reports. Under the eight-year contract, RKIK will procure mobile bandaging stations, mobile field hospitals, individual modules and spare parts, repair, maintenance, and development services, and user…
A 100-kilogramme aerial bomb was found during excavation work at an intersection in Estonia’s second-largest city, Tartu, on 4 July 2023, BNS reports. Explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) experts were dispatched to remove the bomb in the city’s Raadi neighbourhood. The bomb will be destroyed at the training grounds of the Estonian Defence Forces in Ida-Virumaa…