Most drivers in Latvia exceed the speed limit daily, according to a Norstat poll for insurance company ERGO, BNS reports. The survey showed that 67% of Latvian drivers violate speed limits every day, including 74% of male and 60% of female drivers. Meanwhile, 48% of drivers have never been ticketed for speeding, while 42% have…
The Latvian government has decided to launch an initial public offering (IPO) of shares in the state-owned national air carrier, airBaltic, by the end of 2024, ERR reports. Transport Minister Kaspars Briskens said that the IPO would proceed concurrently with talks with a new strategic investor, LSM reported. He said that the state only planned…
A strategic investor has shown interest in Latvia’s national air carrier, airBaltic, Transport Minister Kaspars Briskens revealed, LETA reports. He suggested that the investor could acquire a minority stake in airBaltic before the company’s possible IPO. Briskens refused to disclose the name of the potential investor. No talks are currently under way with Estonia or…
Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina urged European countries to “resist Russian evil,” saying that this would help increase security and prosperity in the continent, LSM reports. Speaking at the European Political Community (EPC) summit in the UK, Silina called on Europe to provide more military, financial, and political support to Ukraine. She said that European…
Lithuania will enforce an EU ban on the entry of vehicles registered in Belarus as of 18 July 2024, LRT reports. The new ban applies to all passenger cars, regardless of the nationality of the owner or driver. Belarusian citizens with valid visas or residence permits can bring their own cars into Lithuania for personal…
Vehicles registered in Belarus are banned from entering Latvia as of 16 July 2024, the State Revenue Service (VID) announced, LSM reports. The ban applies to automotive vehicles as well as trailers and semi-trailers. Vehicles registered in Belarus that are already in Latvia will have to be reregistered. Non-compliant vehicles can be confiscated and transferred…
The number of passengers using train transport in Latvia totalled 8,989,953 in the first half of 2024, which was 767,317 (9.3%) more than in the same period of 2023, according to the country’s state-owned passenger train operator, Pasazieru Vilciens (Vivi), LSM reported. Electric trains on suburban routes carried 8,024,544 passengers, which was 89% of the…
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…