Baltics

Border guards to “assess arguments” after court ruling on unlawful migrant pushbacks

By Benas Gerdžiūnas, LRT.lt. The State Border Guard Service (VSAT) said on Thursday it will “assess the arguments” following a court ruling which described the pushback of migrants at the [..]

Estonia mulling social tax change, implications for couriers and digital nomads

A bill streamlining social tax payments for services between individuals is back in government. It would shift tax duties to service providers using platforms. In the fall of 2023, the [..]

Education minister: Major goal to get Russian-speaking children to B1 in Estonian

Most of the schools in Estonia where Russian has, until recently, been the main language of instruction, still do not equip children with sufficient Estonian language skills, Minister of Education [..]

Most visited website in Latvia in December 2025 was inbox.lv

The most visited website in Latvia in December 2025 was inbox.lv, which was viewed 786,784 times, according to the latest data published by the international internet research and technology company [..]

Why is Latvia increasingly on the fintech shortlist?

Latvia has recently attracted increased attention within Europe’s fintech community, particularly among organisations planning to launch innovative financial services. The interest is driven by a combination of regulatory clarity, structured [..]

US action in Venezuela and force-based order – a danger for Lithuania?

By Benas Gerdžiūnas, Austė Sargytė, LRT.lt. America’s seizure of Venezuela’s authoritarian leader marks a new stage in geopolitics. Washington is declaring its return to a 19th-century doctrine of “spheres of [..]

Prices in Estonia went up 4.1% on year to December 2025

Prices in Estonia rose by 4.1 percent on year to December, Statistics Estonia reported. The flash estimate of the harmonized index of consumer prices (HICP) published by on Wednesday also [..]

Lithuanians jump aboard the silver rush

By Jonas Daveikis, LRT.lt. With silver prices climbing towards historic highs, a company trading in the metal says Lithuanians are buying it even by the kilogramme. At the start of [..]

Illegally parked vehicles removed from Estonia’s Koidula border crossing

Dozens of illegally parked and abandoned vehicles at Estonia’s southern border crossing with Russia have been removed by the Transport Administration. The government agency started the work at the Koidula [..]

MP: International law protecting small states is fracturing

The United States’ attack on Venezuela raises questions about the protection provided by international law that is vital for the survival of small states, including Estonia, said Marko Mihkelson (Reform), [..]

2026 brings seven new direct routes to Tallinn Airport

Tallinn Airport’s direct route network will expand significantly in 2026. Wizz Air will launch direct flights to Warsaw from 29 March and to Rome from 21 September. airBaltic will add [..]

Real estate prices to continue rising this year – YIT Latvija

This year, real estate prices are likely to continue rising, Andris Boze, a board member of housing developer and construction company YIT Latvija, told LETA. He noted that housing prices [..]

Lithuania preps bridges for demolition on Belarus, Russia borders

By Benas Gerdžiūnas, LRT.lt. People in Lithuania have noticed construction work taking place almost simultaneously on bridges close to the Belarusian border. The Lithuanian Armed Forces confirmed to LRT.lt that [..]

Two ship crew members arrested in Finland over Baltic Sea cable damage

Finnish police have arrested two crew members of the Fitburg, a cargo ship seized Wednesday over damage to an Estonian–Finnish undersea communications cable. Finnish authorities detained the Fitburg on Wednesday [..]

Minimum monthly wage to increase to €780

The minimum monthly wage in Latvia is set to increase by €40 to €780 in 2026. As reported, the non-taxable minimum will also rise by €40 next year, from €510 [..]

Long weekend bonanza: Lithuania will have six in 2026

By Gabrielė Jankienė, LRT.lt. Those lucky instances when a public holiday falls on a Friday or a Monday, giving most workers three uninterrupted days off. Employees in Lithuania can expect [..]

What to expect in Estonia in 2026

Happy New Year! 2026 is finally here, but what can we expect over the coming 365 days? ERR News outlines some of the events and changes of the coming year. [..]

Latvia’s catering prices reach record high, says Restaurant Association

The price level in Latvia’s catering industry has reached its highest point to date, Janis Jenzis, head of the Latvian Restaurant Association, told LETA. He noted that 2025 is expected [..]

New helmet rules aim to curb electric scooter injuries in Lithuania

By Ignas Andriukevičius, LRT RADIO, LRT.lt. All riders of electric micromobility vehicles in Lithuania will be required to wear helmets starting next year, under new safety rules aimed at reducing [..]

Lithuania updates security strategy, highlighting “existential” threat from Russia

By Edvardas Špokas, LRT TV, LRT.lt. Lithuania is updating its national security strategy, warning that the country faces an existential threat and that Russia could be capable of waging war [..]

Finland detains vessel after cable damaged between Tallinn and Helsinki

Finland’s police detained a cargo ship in the Gulf of Finland after an undersea cable in Estonia’s exclusive economic zone was damaged on Wednesday morning. Estonian authorities said faults were [..]

Former Nordica partner makes €25 million from sale of assets, waiting for liquidation

The government will decide early next year what to do with state-owned Transpordi Varahaldus, which leased planes to Nordica and now holds €25 million. U.S. aviation company Regional One, which [..]

Demand for a high-quality electricity supply will continue to grow – Sadales tīkls

Demand for a high-quality electricity supply and sufficient capacity will increase next year, while public expectations regarding service quality will also continue to grow, Sandis Jansons, Chairman of the Board [..]

Secure payments one of the financial industry’s priorities this year – Luminor Bank

Secure payments and fraud prevention have been among the financial sector’s priorities this year, Gita Jursane, Deputy Head of Luminor Bank’s Latvian branch, told LETA. With the new European Union [..]

Fierce competition in the Latvian fuel market continued this year – Circle K

The fuel market in Latvia remained fiercely competitive this year, Gatis Titovs, fuel category manager at fuel retailer Circle K Latvia, told LETA. He noted that 2025 was a highly [..]

Are Lithuanians bad drivers?

By Rūta Kupetytė, LRT RADIJAS, LRT.lt. A fifth of drivers in Lithuania rate the country’s road culture as poor, while 60% say it could be much better, according to a [..]

Economist: Low birth rate leads to many economic problems

Luminor Bank’s Chief Economist Lenno Uusküla said Estonia’s declining birth rates will bring economic problems in the future, for example, in healthcare and paying pensions. In November, 721 children were [..]

Flu hits epidemic level in Estonia

Around 2,000 new flu cases have been reported over the past week. Doctors are advising people to be cautious about visiting others during the holidays if they suspect they may [..]

Bolt introduces its first TapBox screens at Riga Airport in Latvia – for ordering rides without an app

Ride-hailing platform Bolt introduces its first TapBox self-service screens at Riga Airport in Latvia, allowing passengers to conveniently and quickly order a ride without using the app. This solution greatly [..]

Christmas Peace declared in Tallinn

At noon on Wednesday, Mayor of Tallinn Peeter Raudsepp proclaimed the Christmas Peace in the Estonian capital. Raudsepp read the traditional Christmas Peace message to citizens of Tallinn from the [..]

Latvia’s new car registrations grow faster than EU average in January–November – ACEA

In January–November, new car registrations in Latvia increased by 32.7 percent, outpacing the European Union (EU) average, according to the latest data published by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA). [..]

More than gifts: how commerce came to define modern Christmas

By Teresė Bernatonytė, LRT RADIO. “Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas… perhaps… means a little bit more,” the line comes from How the Grinch Stole [..]

Bolt to suspend car and electric scooter rentals for New Year’s

The taxi and rental company Bolt will suspend its car and scooter rental services over New Year’s, citing a desire to prevent intoxicated individuals from getting behind the wheel of [..]

Mayor Peeter Raudsepp to proclaim Christmas Peace on Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve, 24 December at noon, the Mayor of Tallinn, Peeter Raudsepp, will proclaim the Christmas Peace by reading the historic Christmas Peace message to the citizens from the [..]

Media: Trump administration recalls dozens of US ambassadors, reports include Lithuania

The administration of US President Donald Trump is recalling dozens of American ambassadors from posts around the world, with some reports listing Lithuania among the countries affected. According to US [..]

Food prices in Latvia begin to follow global trends – Kazaks

Food prices in Latvian shops are starting to follow global trends, Bank of Latvia President Mārtiņš Kazāks said in an interview with commercial television channel TV3 on Wednesday. He noted [..]

Number of housing transactions in Latvia increased by 20% over nine months – Latio

The number of housing transactions in Latvia has increased by about 20 percent in the first nine months of this year, real estate company Latio told LETA. The company noted [..]

Excise duties on alcohol and tobacco to rise with the new year

Starting January 1, 2026, excise duty rates on tobacco products and alcohol in Estonia will rise by 10 percent and such tax increases typically lead to higher retail prices. Although [..]

Ülemiste shopping center explosion an isolated incident, security service says

The Internal Security Services said an explosion in a trash bin at a Tallinn shopping center on Saturday is an “isolated incident” and has, at this stage, ruled out a [..]

AS Grenardi Group acquires SIA Goldwork, strengthening its position in the Baltic jewellery market

AS Grenardi Group, the leading jewellery retailer in Latvia, is acquiring SIA Goldwork, a company specializing in professional jewellery repair services. Under the agreement, SIA “Goldwork” will join AS “Grenardi [..]

EU ready to revisit Ukraine funding if new loan falls short – Lithuania’s president

The European Union will revisit the issue of financing Ukraine if a newly agreed 90-billion-euro loan proves insufficient, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said Friday. “The financing issue has been resolved. [..]

Bank of Estonia forecast: Economy livening up at the cost of growing public debt

According to the Bank of Estonia’s latest forecast, Estonia’s economy is recovering, with growth in 2026 driven by improving export markets and supportive government steps. Changes to income tax will [..]

Estonia could close border with Russia after illegal crossing, minister says

The government will discuss a possible revision of the threat assessment on Friday and closing the border has not been ruled out after Russia denied its border guards illegally crossed [..]

Demand for small commercial spaces in Riga continues to grow – Nordspace expands its smart business park portfolio in Latvia

The smart premises business park developer Nordspace has completed the construction of its third smart business park in Latvia – Lubānas – while simultaneously launching the second development phase of [..]

Protests over media freedom in Lithuania continue – here’s what you need to know

By Benas Gerdžiūnas, LRT.lt. Lithuania’s civil society sector is organising protests against plans to politicise the public broadcaster, LRT. Here’s what’s been happening so far. Around 12,000 people – or [..]

Estonia installs first bunkers on Baltic Defense Line

Estonia has started to install the first of hundreds of bunkers on its section of the Baltic Defense Line, which spans the three Baltic countries and aims to stop a [..]

Falling European natural gas prices not likely to reach Estonian consumers till February

The sharp drop in natural gas prices seen in European markets this month may not reach Estonian household consumers until February, retailers say. On the other hand, prices may rise [..]

Will US pressure Lithuania to lift sanctions on Belarus? Three scenarios

By Eglė Samoškaitė, LRT.lt. Belarus has released 123 political prisoners in exchange for a US decision to lift sanctions on Belarusian potash fertilisers, a move that analysts say reflects Washington’s [..]

Latvian company Mobilly receives €4 million in development funding from Signet Bank

Signet Bank, a local Latvian bank, has granted €4 million in financing to Mobilly, a mobile payment solution developed in Latvia, supporting the company’s future growth and development of digital [..]

Wizz Air wants to become a leading airline at Tallinn Airport

Low-cost airline Wizz Air is aiming to become one of the leading carriers serving Tallinn and the company has recently opened several new routes, a spokesperson said on Monday. The [..]

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