#Estonia

People of Estonia predominantly opposed to VAT, income tax, fuel excise duty hikes

According to the results of a survey commissioned by the the Institute for the Study of Societal Issues, the vast majority of Estonian citizens do not support the planned VAT, [..]

Pärnu-Uulu section of Via Baltica opens to traffic

The Pärnu-Uulu four-lane road section, which cost 35 million euros, was opened to traffic on the Tallinn-Pärnu-Ikla road on Wednesday, where, according to a traffic study, more than 15,000 vehicles [..]

Expert: Employees in Estonia exceptionally active in job hunting this year

Employees are exceptionally active in job hunting this year, with over one million job applications submitted to employers so far, according to statistics from the job portal CVKeskus.ee. However, employers [..]

Swedbank: Some 38,000 people in Estonia have increased 2nd pillar contributions

During the first half of 2024, almost 38,000 people in Estonia submitted applications to increase their monthly contributions to the second pension pillar from next year. More than half of [..]

Estonia to offer bonds to residents

For the first time this year, the Estonian government plans to issue bonds for the country’s residents, which would bear a fixed interest and be traded on the Tallinn Stock [..]

Estonia eyeing amendment to allow foreign citizens to participate in national defense

The Defense Ministry has drafted a document of legislative intent to amend the Military Service Act in order to enable foreign citizens to participate in the national defense of Estonia [..]

Estonia takes over presidency of the Council of the Baltic Sea States

From Monday until June 30, 2025, Estonia will preside over the work of the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS), focusing on increasing security and sustainability in the Baltic [..]

Kanal 2 goes free-to-air: Paris Olympics can be viewed by everyone in Estonia

As of July 1, Duo Media Networks’ TV channels Kanal 2, Duo 4, Duo 5 and Kanal 7 are available on free-to-air television, allowing all viewers across Estonia to watch [..]

Major reconstruction work begins on Tallinn’s Lastekodu tänav

On Wednesday, June 26, major reconstruction work will begin on Tallinn’s Lastekodu tänav. The construction work will bring changes to downtown traffic systems and during the later stages, to public [..]

Pope Francis appoints new papal nuncio to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia

Pope Francis has appointed a longtime secretary of the late Pope Benedict XVI as the Vatican’s diplomatic representative to the Baltic States. The Vatican announced in its daily bulletin on [..]

President in Victory Day speech: Estonia will not fall back to 1939

In his speech at the Victory Day parade in the northeastern border city of Narva, President Alar Karis said that as a member of NATO, Estonia will not fall back [..]

Estonian swimmer Eneli Jefimova wins 100m breaststroke gold at European Championships

Estonian swimmer Eneli Jefimova won the gold medal in the women’s 100-meter breaststroke at the 2024 European Aquatics Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, on Wednesday evening. Jefimova completed the distance in [..]

Meloni might sabotage Estonia’s Kaja Kallas’ bid for Brussels position

Incumbent Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas’ chances of becoming the European Union’s high representative for foreign affairs have declined, according to recent news in European media, Postimees reports. It is [..]

Omniva parcel machines in Baltics can now be used to send parcels all over the world

It is now possible to send parcels from parcel machines of Estonian state-owned postal service and logistics company Omniva to 237 countries and territories around the world. The service is [..]

Four leading EKRE members expelled in party’s ‘night of the long knives’

The Conservative People’s Party of Estonia (EKRE) has expelled several of its leading members following a meeting on Tuesday, amid claims of a dictatorial style from party chair Martin Helme. [..]

Estonian cbank predicts economy to turn to growth in 2nd half of 2024

According to the latest economic forecast of the Bank of Estonia, a revival of the economy can be seen in the second half of this year. The return to economic [..]

Estonian bus operator Lux Express launches new Riga Airport express route

Ahead of the summer travel season, Estonian bus operator Lux Express has introduced additional buses on its routes from Tallinn to Riga and Vilnius and opened a new express line [..]

Estonian parlt passes motor vehicle tax

The Estonian parliament on Wednesday passed the government-initiated motor vehicle tax law, with which a two-part motor vehicle tax will be implemented from next year. Altogether 57 MPs voted in [..]

Bolt, Lingvist to launch mandatory language learning program for drivers in Estonia

Bolt and the language learning platform Lingvist are about to launch a mandatory program for learning the Estonian language to improve the language skills of Bolt drivers in Estonia. The [..]

Estonian Biobank launches donor data web portal for over 200,000 gene donors

Estonian Biobank of the University of Tartu launched the portal Minu Geenivaramu, which enables donors to access personalized information about their genetic predisposition to diseases, drug compatibility, and ancestry, and [..]

Isamaa wins Estonia’s European Parliament elections

Opposition party Isamaa won the highest vote share in the European Parliament elections on Sunday (June 9) with over 79,000 ballots. The top three parties were Isamaa (79,170 votes), the [..]

Estonia planning to multiply fares for county bus lines

According to a draft prepared by the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture, the prices of bus tickets on regional lines will increase several times compared to the present. For [..]

Estonian parlt places crypto industry under FSA supervision

The Estonian parliament passed on Wednesday a government-initiated cryptocurrency market law, placing both cryptocurrency service providers and issuers under the supervision of the Financial Supervisory Authority (FSA). The bill was [..]

Working people in Estonia rate Enefit as most reputable employer

According to a survey of employer reputation conducted by pollster Kantar Emor, Enefit, a subsidiary of the Estonian state-owned energy group Eesti Energia, is considered the most reputable employer among [..]

LHV: Electric car market becoming more active in Estonia

While electric cars have so far been considered a choice for wealthier individuals, more favorable financing conditions and a wider range of lower-priced electric vehicles could make them popular among [..]

Estonia’s economic affairs, IT minister survives censure vote

A motion of no confidence in Estonian Minister of Economic Affairs and IT Tiit Riisalo failed in the Riigikogu on Monday. The censure motion was supported by 23 MPs, while [..]

Tallinn to build 14-kilometer linear park

Next week, construction will begin on the first phase of the Putukavail (The Pollinator Highway) project in Tallinn, creating a new pedestrian and cyclist corridor between Ristiku and Sole streets [..]

61 pct of Estonian population in favor of deployment of nuclear energy

More than half, or 61 percent, of residents of Estonia are positive about the possible introduction of nuclear energy, a poll taken in May shows. The findings of the survey [..]

Estonian Tax, Customs Board wants to monitor all individuals’ and cos’ bank accounts

The Estonian Tax and Customs Board wants the Finance Ministry to enact a law that would essentially grant them access to the data of every individual’s and company’s bank account, [..]

S&P downgrades 3 Baltic countries due to war in Ukraine

Rating agency S&P announced on Friday that it had downgraded the ratings of the three Baltic states Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, citing the effects of the war in Ukraine and [..]

Estonian parlt raises teachers’ salaries

The Estonian parliament on Wednesday adopted the government-initiated amendments to this year’s State Budget Act, with which an additional nine million euros will be allocated to the teachers’ salary fund, [..]

Cornerstone to be laid for building of Rail Baltic Ulemiste terminal in Tallinn

On Wednesday, the cornerstone will be laid for the building of the terminal of the Rail Baltic in the Ulemiste area of Tallinn. On this occasion, Magda Kopczynska, director general [..]

Estonian tax authority: Cash-in-hand pay should be declared too

In the context of the findings of a recent poll by the job portal CV. ee, according to which a large percentage of residents is ready to do additional seasonal [..]

Survey: Many in Estonia willing to do extra seasonal work without paying tax

An express survey of the Estonian labor market carried out by the job portal CV.ee shows that nearly 30 percent of those surveyed have done or are willing to do [..]

Law to speed up development of offshore wind, solar parks in Estonia

The Estonian parliament on Tuesday passed a bill to amend the Building Code and other laws, initiated by the government, which is aimed at accelerating the deployment of renewable energy. [..]

Innovation Club of Latvia, Germany, Estonia and Lithuania urges EC to improve digital identity system

The Innovation Club of Latvia, Germany, Estonia and Lithuania has urged the European Commission (EC) to enhance the digital identity system, Latvian Environmental Protection and Regional Development Minister Inga Berzina [..]

Circle K Estonia suspends sale of 98 gasoline due to technical fault at terminal

As a result of a malfunction at a terminal, Circle K has suspended the dispensing of 98 octane gasoline at its filling stations in Estonia. The sale of 98 octane [..]

Estonian formin told to repay cost of taking influencer with him on India visit

The committee for oversight over the funding of Estonia’s political parties, ERJK, on Thursday discussed the personal advertising of Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna during a visit to India organized by [..]

Cultural Endowment Fund board green-lights ERR’s new TV house

The state Cultural Endowment Fund’s (Kultuurikapital) supervisory board has approved the construction of a new television house to be used by public broadcaster ERR, utilizing money from the fund itself. [..]

Survey: Happiest people in Baltics live in Estonia

The results of the Estonian Social Survey show that residents of Estonia are happier than residents of Latvian and Lithuania, but not nearly as happy as people in Finland and [..]

Russia puts Estonia’s former formin, police chief on wanted list

According to the Russian news agency TASS, Russia has put Estonia’s former police chief Elmar Vaher and former foreign minister Urmas Reinsalu on its wanted list, Postimees reports. Criminal cases [..]

Fixed home loan interest rates could become cheaper than floating rates

Although last week alone, the security filters of Telia Estonia blocked nearly a million cyberattacks from assets located mainly in the United States, Poland and Canada, there’s an increasing number [..]

Telia survey: Growing numbers of Estonian businesses consider cyber attack unlikely

Although last week alone, the security filters of Telia Estonia blocked nearly a million cyberattacks from assets located mainly in the United States, Poland and Canada, there’s an increasing number [..]

Estonian govt approves bill seeking to increase land tax

The Estonian government has approved and sent to the parliament a bill seeking to amend the Land Tax Act and increase local governments’ decision-making power in setting land tax rates. [..]

Estonian law firm: Sugary drinks tax bill runs counter to EU law

An analysis by lawyers at the law firm Sorainen shows that the so-called sugary drinks tax bill runs counter to European Union law. Consequently, Sorainen filed a complaint with the [..]

Estonia’s Eesti Energia: Exchange price of electricity to decrease this summer

Increased solar energy production in the Baltics and reduced consumption during the summer will lower electricity exchange prices, although during hours when there is a shortage of affordable wind and [..]

Scammers once again defraud people out of thousands of euros in Estonia

The East Prefecture of the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board are investigating cases that once again saw people scammed out of thousands of euros by fraudsters. On May 2, [..]

Estonia climbs to 6th place in 2024 World Press Freedom Index

Estonia rose by two places to sixth place after Finland in the 2024 edition of the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) World Press Freedom Index. Norway continues to top the World [..]

New plan would see registration tax also hit second-hand cars bought in Estonia

The government needs to change its car tax plan to make sure it meets European Union rules. The latest plan would see the registration fee apply also to second-hand vehicles [..]

Switzerland provides EUR 7 mln for conservation innovation in Estonia

An initiative titled “Biodiversity Program,” sponsored by Switzerland and launched on Wednesday, will provide funding for four years of work to improve wildlife monitoring and the effectiveness of biodiversity protection [..]