Via Baltica
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Today's Top #News from the #Baltic States of #Estonia, #Latvia, and #Lithuania — Read Less, Know More @ https://viabaltica.fi
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Via Baltica
@viabaltica.bsky.social
· Mar 4
Read Less, Know More | Via Baltica
Welcome to Via Baltica, your "information superhighway" for up-to-date news from the three Baltic tigers of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania! Our editor is Kerkko Paananen, news analyst with more than t...
viabaltica.fi
Welcome to Via Baltica, your "information superhighway" for up-to-date #news from the three #Baltic tigers of #Estonia, #Latvia, and #Lithuania. Our editor is @kerkko.bsky.social.
— Read Less, Know More.
— Read Less, Know More.
Estonia ranks highest in the #Baltic States on the World Intellectual Property Organization's Global #Innovation Index in 2025. #Estonia ranks 16th on the global #index of 139 economies, followed by #Lithuania on 33rd place and #Latvia on 41st place.
Baltic: Estonia ranks highest on Global Innovation Index in 2025
Estonia ranks the highest in the Baltic States on the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) Global Innovation Index in 2025, Labs of Latvia reports. Estonia ranks 16th on the global index…
viabaltica.fi
October 7, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Estonia ranks highest in the #Baltic States on the World Intellectual Property Organization's Global #Innovation Index in 2025. #Estonia ranks 16th on the global #index of 139 economies, followed by #Lithuania on 33rd place and #Latvia on 41st place.
Three MPs in #Lithuania have submitted a draft resolution to recognise #Palestine. The resolution was submitted by two MPs from far-right populist party Dawn of Nemunas and an MP from the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union. Both parties are members of the current coalition #government.
Lithuania: Coalition MPs propose recognising Palestine
Three members of the Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, have submitted a draft resolution to recognise Palestinian statehood, BNS reports. The resolution was submitted by two MPs from the far-right…
viabaltica.fi
October 7, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Three MPs in #Lithuania have submitted a draft resolution to recognise #Palestine. The resolution was submitted by two MPs from far-right populist party Dawn of Nemunas and an MP from the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union. Both parties are members of the current coalition #government.
A rail link to the Latvian capital, #Riga, is planned to be built in the second phase of the Rail Baltica #railway project, Marko Kivila, CEO of the #Baltic joint venture, RB Rail, said. He urged #Latvia to open a shuttle #train service to connect Riga to the railway's main line.
Latvia: Riga link part of Rail Baltica’s second phase: CEO
A rail link to the Latvian capital, Riga, is planned to be built in the second phase of the Rail Baltica railway project, Marko Kivila, CEO of the Baltic joint venture, RB Rail, told LETA.
viabaltica.fi
October 7, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Estonia's consumer price index rose by 5.2% on year in September 2025, driven mostly by a 7.7% increase in #food #prices, #Statistics #Estonia reported. Compared to August 2025, #inflation fell by 1.1%.
Estonia: Annual inflation 5.2% in September 2025: statistics
Estonia’s consumer price index (CPI) rose by 5.2% on year in September 2025, driven mostly by a 7.7% increase in food prices, according to Statistics Estonia, ERR reported. Prices for goods rose by 2.
viabaltica.fi
October 7, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Estonia's consumer price index rose by 5.2% on year in September 2025, driven mostly by a 7.7% increase in #food #prices, #Statistics #Estonia reported. Compared to August 2025, #inflation fell by 1.1%.
The #Baltic Assembly has announced its annual #awards in #arts, #literature, and #science. The arts #prize went to Latvian conductor Kaspars Putnins, the literature prize to Lithuanian author Tomas Venclova, and the science prize to Estonian political scientist Eva Piirimäe.
Baltic: Baltic Assembly announces arts, literature, science prizes
The Baltic Assembly has announced its annual awards in arts, literature, and science, LSM reports. The prize in the arts category went to Latvian conductor Kaspars Putnins for the Latvian Radio Choir’...
viabaltica.fi
October 6, 2025 at 8:27 PM
All #foreigners interacting directly with #customers in #Lithuania will have to be able to communicate in #Lithuanian as of 1 January 2026. A poll showed that 80% of #Lithuanians wanted foreign #service sector workers to speak Lithuanian.
Lithuania: Foreign service workers will need to speak Lithuanian
All foreign nationals interacting directly with customers in Lithuania will be required to communicate in Lithuanian as of 1 January 2026, LRT reports. The rule applies to both foreign employees and…
viabaltica.fi
October 6, 2025 at 8:02 PM
All #foreigners interacting directly with #customers in #Lithuania will have to be able to communicate in #Lithuanian as of 1 January 2026. A poll showed that 80% of #Lithuanians wanted foreign #service sector workers to speak Lithuanian.
The Consumer Rights Protection Centre of #Latvia (PTAC) may sue e-moped #rental company Ride for its refusal to suspend operations as ordered. PTAC told Ride to halt its service after two teenagers died in a #traffic accident in #Riga.
Latvia: Consumer protection authority may sue e-moped rental company
Latvia’s Consumer Rights Protection Centre (PTAC) may take the electronic moped rental company, Ride, to court for its refusal to suspend operations as ordered, LSM reports. Earlier, PTAC told Ride to...
viabaltica.fi
October 6, 2025 at 7:40 PM
#Estonia needs more skilled foreign #labour, Hando Sutter, CEO of the Estonian Employers' Confederation, stated. He noted that the country's #employment rate and number of #births were at their lowest ever, and lamented the presence of #xenophobia in Estonian society.
Estonia: Economy needs more foreign labour: employers
Estonia needs more skilled foreign labour, Hando Sutter, CEO of the Estonian Employers’ Confederation (ETK), stated, ERR reports. Speaking on ETV, Sutter noted that Estonia’s employment rate was now…
viabaltica.fi
October 6, 2025 at 6:25 PM
#Estonia needs more skilled foreign #labour, Hando Sutter, CEO of the Estonian Employers' Confederation, stated. He noted that the country's #employment rate and number of #births were at their lowest ever, and lamented the presence of #xenophobia in Estonian society.
Several people were detained in #Lithuania after smuggler balloons disrupted #flights at #Vilnius #Airport overnight on 4 October 2025. The balloons carrying contraband #cigarettes were launched from neighbouring #Belarus.
Lithuania: Several detained after smuggler balloons disrupt flights
Several people were detained in Lithuania after smuggler balloons disrupted flights at Vilnius International Airport (VIA) overnight on 4 October 2025, LRT reports. Vilmantas Vitkauskas…
viabaltica.fi
October 6, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Several people were detained in #Lithuania after smuggler balloons disrupted #flights at #Vilnius #Airport overnight on 4 October 2025. The balloons carrying contraband #cigarettes were launched from neighbouring #Belarus.
Latvia's Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS) has called on its coalition partner, New Unity, to support #Latvia withdrawing from the Council of Europe's Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating #violence against #women. ZZS argued that the convention did not, in fact, work.
Latvia: Coalition rift over Istanbul Convention deepens
Latvia’s Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS) has called on its coalition partner, New Unity, to support withdrawing from the Council of Europe’s Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence…
viabaltica.fi
October 6, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna of #Estonia panned comments by German ex-Chancellor Angela #Merkel who implied that the #Baltic States and #Poland bore indirect responsibility for Russian aggression against #Ukraine. Western policy mistakes, including by Merkel, emboldened #Russia, he stated.
Estonia: Foreign Minister pans Merkel on Russia policy
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna panned comments by former German Chancellor Angela Merkel who implied that the Baltic States and Poland bore indirect responsibility for Russia’s aggression…
viabaltica.fi
October 6, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Industrial #production in the #Baltic States increased the most in #Latvia in August 2025 on year. Industrial output rose by 2.4% in Latvia, 1% in #Estonia, and 0.1% in #Lithuania. Compared to July 2025, output in Baltic #industry was up 2.1% in Lithuania and 1.5% in Estonia but down 2.4% in Latvia.
Baltic: Industrial production up most in Latvia in August 2025: statistics
Industrial production in the Baltic States increased the most in Latvia in August 2025, compared to a year earlier. In Estonia, the total production of industrial enterprises increased by 1%
viabaltica.fi
October 6, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Industrial #production in the #Baltic States increased the most in #Latvia in August 2025 on year. Industrial output rose by 2.4% in Latvia, 1% in #Estonia, and 0.1% in #Lithuania. Compared to July 2025, output in Baltic #industry was up 2.1% in Lithuania and 1.5% in Estonia but down 2.4% in Latvia.
The ruling coalition in #Latvia has failed to secure a quorum in #parliament for two weeks during votes on contested bills. #Opposition parties have broken the quorum to preempt final votes on transposing EU directives on #emission trading systems into national #law.
Latvia: Opposition continues to block votes in parliament
Latvia’s ruling coalition has failed to secure a quorum in the parliament, the Saeima, for two weeks during votes on contested bills, LETA reports. On 2 October 2025, opposition parties again broke…
viabaltica.fi
October 6, 2025 at 12:56 PM
The ruling coalition in #Latvia has failed to secure a quorum in #parliament for two weeks during votes on contested bills. #Opposition parties have broken the quorum to preempt final votes on transposing EU directives on #emission trading systems into national #law.
Employers and trade unions in #Estonia have begun talks on raising the minimum #wage. Under an agreement signed in 2022, the minimum wage was due to rise to 50% of the country's average wage by 2027.
Estonia: Employers, trade unions begin minimum wage talks
Employer and trade union groups in Estonia have begun talks on raising the minimum wage, ERR reports. Under an agreement signed in 2022, the minimum wage was to rise to 50% of the average wage by 2027...
viabaltica.fi
October 6, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Thousands of people in #Lithuania protested on 5 October 2025 against the government's decision to hand control of the Ministry of Culture to the far-right populist party, Dawn of Nemunas. The protest manifesto urged citizens to defend #culture, #democracy, and #freedom of expression.
Lithuania: Thousands protest against populist control of Culture Ministry
Thousands of people in Lithuania protested on 5 October 2025 against the new government’s move to hand control of the Ministry of Culture to the far-right populist party, Dawn of Nemunas (PPNA)…
viabaltica.fi
October 5, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Thousands of people in #Lithuania protested on 5 October 2025 against the government's decision to hand control of the Ministry of Culture to the far-right populist party, Dawn of Nemunas. The protest manifesto urged citizens to defend #culture, #democracy, and #freedom of expression.
A #Nordic and #Baltic training camp for Ukrainian soldiers, Camp Jomsborg, has been opened in #Poland. The camp will train up to 1,200 #soldiers at a time. Also, #Estonia and #Ukraine have launched a project to train over 500 Ukrainian #cyber specialists under the international Tallinn Mechanism.
Baltic: Nordic-Baltic training centre for Ukrainian soldiers opens in Poland
The Norwegian-led Nordic-Baltic training camp for Ukrainian soldiers, Camp Jomsborg, was opened officially in southern Poland on 1 October 2025, ERR reports. The camp at the Polish Land Forces…
viabaltica.fi
October 5, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Smuggler balloons from #Belarus disrupted #flights at #Vilnius #Airport in #Lithuania overnight on 4 October 2025. Altogether 25 meteorological balloons, most likely carrying smuggled #cigarettes, entered Lithuanian airspace from Belarus.
Lithuania: Smuggler balloons from Belarus disrupt flights at Vilnius Airport
Smuggler balloons from Belarus disrupted flights at Lithuania’s Vilnius International Airport (VIA) overnight on 2 October 2025, LRT reports. The National Crisis Management Centre (NKVC) reported that...
viabaltica.fi
October 5, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Smuggler balloons from #Belarus disrupted #flights at #Vilnius #Airport in #Lithuania overnight on 4 October 2025. Altogether 25 meteorological balloons, most likely carrying smuggled #cigarettes, entered Lithuanian airspace from Belarus.
Non-cash #payments accounted for 74% of #consumer payments in #Latvia in August 2025, which was down from record 78% in February 2025, the #Bank of Latvia reported. #Cash payments accounted for 26% (22%) of all payments.
Latvia: More consumers pay cash in autumn 2025: survey
Non-cash payments accounted for 74% of consumer payments in Latvia in August 2025, which was down from record 78% in February 2025, according to the Bank of Latvia’s latest payment radar survey…
viabaltica.fi
October 5, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Building a "drone wall" on NATO's eastern flank is a priority for Estonia's and Europe's #security, Estonian PM Kristen Michal stated. #Estonia will deploy the first anti-drone solutions in 2026 and build a drone wall by the end of 2027, he said.
Estonia: European drone wall is now priority: PM Michal
Building a “drone wall” on NATO’s eastern flank is a priority for Estonia’s and Europe’s security, Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal stated, ERR reports. Speaking at the European Council and…
viabaltica.fi
October 5, 2025 at 5:13 PM
#China remains a threat to the #security of Lithuania's #energy system, Lithuanian Energy Minister Zygimantas Vaiciunas stated. He assured that Chinese-made components would not be used in energy facilities in #Lithuania.
Lithuania: China remains threat to energy system: minister
China remains a threat to the security of Lithuania’s energy system, Lithuanian Energy Minister Zygimantas Vaiciunas stated, BNS reports. Speaking in an interview with Ziniu Radijas…
viabaltica.fi
October 4, 2025 at 6:16 PM
#China remains a threat to the #security of Lithuania's #energy system, Lithuanian Energy Minister Zygimantas Vaiciunas stated. He assured that Chinese-made components would not be used in energy facilities in #Lithuania.
Over 7,700 people in #Latvia have signed a #petition against withdrawing from the Council of Europe's Istanbul Convention on #violence against #women. Earlier, parties in the Latvian #parliament signalled that they might vote to revoke Latvia's ratification of the #humanrights treaty.
Latvia: Thousands of Latvians register support for Istanbul Convention
Over 7,700 people in Latvia have signed a public petition against withdrawing from the Council of Europe’s Istanbul Convention on violence against women and domestic violence, LSM reports. Earlier…
viabaltica.fi
October 4, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Over 7,700 people in #Latvia have signed a #petition against withdrawing from the Council of Europe's Istanbul Convention on #violence against #women. Earlier, parties in the Latvian #parliament signalled that they might vote to revoke Latvia's ratification of the #humanrights treaty.
Altogether 126 people in #Estonia renounced their Russian #citizenship in the first eight months of 2025, according to the Estonian Ministry of Interior. In the whole of 2024, only 107 residents in Estonia gave up their #Russian passports.
Estonia: More people renouncing Russian citizenship
Altogether 126 people in Estonia renounced their Russian citizenship in the first eight months of 2025, according to data from the Estonian Ministry of Interior, ERR reports. In the whole of 2024…
viabaltica.fi
October 4, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Altogether 126 people in #Estonia renounced their Russian #citizenship in the first eight months of 2025, according to the Estonian Ministry of Interior. In the whole of 2024, only 107 residents in Estonia gave up their #Russian passports.
#Estonia had the highest pupil-to-teacher ratio in the #Baltic States in 2023, #Eurostat reported. Estonia had 12.5 pupils per teacher in primary to upper secondary #education, followed by #Latvia with 11.9 and #Lithuania with 11.4.
Baltic: Estonia had highest pupil-teacher ratio in 2023: Eurostat
Estonia had the highest pupil-to-teacher ratio in the Baltic States in 2023, according to Eurostat data, LSM reports. Estonia had 12.5 pupils per teacher in primary to upper secondary education in…
viabaltica.fi
October 4, 2025 at 1:50 PM
#Estonia had the highest pupil-to-teacher ratio in the #Baltic States in 2023, #Eurostat reported. Estonia had 12.5 pupils per teacher in primary to upper secondary #education, followed by #Latvia with 11.9 and #Lithuania with 11.4.
News outlet DELFI has presented awards to the most influential people in #Lithuania. Winners included President Gitanas Nauseda, construction tycoon Arvydas Avulis, and Litgrid CEO Rokas Masiulis. The awards are based on surveys of both the general public and national elites.
Lithuania: DELFI hosts inaugural Most Influential People awards
Lithuanian news outlet DELFI hosted its inaugural Most Influential People awards in Vilnius on 2 October 2025, ELTA reports. President Gitanas Nauseda won the award for the most influential politician...
viabaltica.fi
October 4, 2025 at 1:23 PM
News outlet DELFI has presented awards to the most influential people in #Lithuania. Winners included President Gitanas Nauseda, construction tycoon Arvydas Avulis, and Litgrid CEO Rokas Masiulis. The awards are based on surveys of both the general public and national elites.
#Housing prices in #Latvia increased by 6.7% on year in Q2/2025, #Eurostat reports. Compared to Q1/2025, housing #prices rose by 3.2%.
Latvia: Housing prices up 6.7% on year in Q2/2025: Eurostat
Housing prices in Latvia increased by 6.7% in the second quarter of 2025, compared to the same period of 2024, according to Eurostat data, LSM reports. Compared to the first quarter of 2025…
viabaltica.fi
October 4, 2025 at 12:55 PM