Latvian ministries and other institutions have submitted proposals for priority budget measures worth EUR 1.983bn for 2024, according to the Ministry of Finance, LETA reports. Finance Minister Arvils Aseradens said that funding requests were EUR 250mn lower than in 2023. The largest requests were for teacher wages, health care, and defence. Other requests included covering…
The Estonian shipping group, Tallink Grupp, posted unaudited revenue of EUR 400.9mn in the first half of 2023, which was up 28.4% from EUR 312.2mn in the same period of 2022, GlobeNewswire reports. Six-month EBITDA amounted to EUR 95.6mn (EUR 17.7mn) and net profit to EUR 28.0mn (EUR 40.7mn). In the second quarter of 2023,…
Around 400 bicycles have been reported stolen in Estonia so far in 2023, ERR reports. Reported thefts in Harjumaa county number 300, which is 70% more than a year earlier. Kaido Atspol, detective at the East Harjumaa Police Department, said that most cases of bicycle theft took place in central Tallinn. Owners usually buy new…
A group of MPs from Latvia’s ruling New Unity party has proposed amendments that would introduce harsher penalties for exceeding speed limits in road traffic, Baltic News Network reports. Under the proposal, the fine for driving 60 km/h or more above the speed limit would rise from the current EUR 240-460 to EUR 720-960 and…
Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, Transport Minister Marius Skuodis, and Agriculture Minister Kestutis Navickas have sent a joint letter to the European Commission, in which they call for helping Ukraine export more grain via the Baltic States, BNS reports. The ministers argued that Baltic ports, railways, and roads could serve as a viable alternative route…
Estonia’s Ministry of Climate has drawn up an updated national energy and climate plan that includes more ambitious renewable energy and climate neutrality targets, ERR reports. Under the plan, Estonia would produce all power from renewable energy sources by 2030 and be completely climate neutral by 2050. Climate Minister Kristen Michal asserted that the plan…
An overwhelming majority of Estonians oppose the introduction of a proposed car tax, according to a Norstat poll conducted in July 2023 for the Institute of Societal Studies (YI), ERR reports. The survey showed that 72% opposed and 21% supported the car tax. The remainder had no opinion. Altogether 80% of households polled had a…
Latvia’s Foreign Ministry has repeated its strong recommendation for Latvian citizens not to travel to Belarus and Russia due to the current tense security situation, LSM reports. The ministry warned that travellers may be subjected to provocations. Diana Eglite, press secretary at the Foreign Ministry, urged people to assess risks. In June 2022, a Latvian…
Traffic disruptions caused by major road reconstruction projects in Estonia’s capital, Tallinn, will begin to subside in September 2023, deputy mayor Vladimir Svet assures, ERR reports. Construction companies KE Infra and Merko Ehitus say that the work is proceeding on schedule. Streets have been closed in several of the busiest parts of the city, hampering…