Baltic News Network - News from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia

Latvijas Gāze pays the fine applied by Competition Council | Baltic News Network - News from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia
▻http://bnn-news.com/latvijas-gaze-pays-the-fine-applied-by-competition-council-152929

In accordance with the ruling of the Supreme Court, which approved the decision made by the Competition Council in relation to the breach of regulations and damage caused to its clients, Latvijas Gāze has transferred the payment of the fine worth EUR 2.2 million applied to the company.

In 2013, CC made the decision to fine Latvijas Gāze for its abuse of monopoly status in its refusal to sign new gas supply contracts with new clients who did not pay back debts owed to LG by previous clients. Over the course of the investigation CC received complaints about such cases from 500 clients.

#Latvia #Latvijas_gāze #Competition_council

Ombudsman: poverty in decline in Latvia | Baltic News Network - News from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia
▻http://bnn-news.com/ombudsman-poverty-in-decline-in-latvia-152935

«In 2013, Latvia had the lowest proportion of funding allocated for social insurance benefits in the European Union – 14% of GDP. This had very little impact on poverty reduction in the country,» – the European Commission mentioned about Latvia in its report.

The report mentions that Latvia’s contribution to social exclusion prevention measures (including guaranteed minimal income index) is only 0.1% of GDP, whereas the average index across Europe is 0.5%. Contribution to housing benefits is just as small: 0.1% of GDP (0.6% in Europe). Social assistance funding is completely decentralized and could increase regional inequality even more. In addition, the country’s social assistance system does not provide sufficient support to people wishing to return to the labour market.

#Poverty #Latvia #Economics

Estonia elects its first female President – Kersti Kaljulaid | Baltic News Network - News from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia
▻http://bnn-news.com/estonia-elects-its-first-female-president-kersti-kaljulaid-152135

Estonian parliament has on October 3 elected the country’s long-time representative at the European Court of Auditors Kersti Kaljulaid to serve as the next President of Estonia.

ERR reports that after numerous rounds of voting since late August, the Estonian presidential election ended with the parliament voting with 81 MPs out of 101 voting for Kaljulaid.

Responding to criticism regarding this round of presidential elections that one-candidate presidential elections are not democratic, Kaljulaid stated on a televised interview before the vote: «If the majority of the Riigikogu’s parliamentary groups has nominated me, then it is a democratic process.»

#Presidential_Elections2016 #Kersti_kaljulaid #Estonia

Struggle of Estonian presidential election to be continued | Baltic News Network - News from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia
▻http://bnn-news.com/struggle-of-estonian-presidential-election-to-be-continued-151760

Another round of the current Estonian presidential election has produced no result, as a special electoral college on September 24 failed to give clear backing to either of the candidates.

Neither Siim Kallas backed by Reform Party, nor Allar Jõks supported by the Free Party and the Pro Patria and Res Publica Union received the 167 votes needed for being elected.

138 election college members voted for Kallas, 134 for Jõks, while 57 ballots were submitted blank.

#Kallas #Estonia #Presidential_elections_2016

Unity: FM threatens to ruin single compensation system principles | Baltic News Network - News from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia
▻http://bnn-news.com/unity-fm-threatens-to-ruin-single-compensation-system-principles-151837

Finance Ministry’s prepared amendments to the Law on Remuneration of Officials and Employees of State and Self-government Authorities that provide for refusal of keeping compensation records for state and municipal capital association officials will negatively influence the principles of the single compensation system, as noted by Unity.

According to the annotation to FM’s proposed amendments, 584 institutions regularly submit information to the record system. FM intends to relieve 233 institutions – state and municipal capital associations – of the duty to submit information about compensations paid to officials and employees.

#FM #Law_on_Remuneration #Latvia #Bureaucracy

Ten million euros to be allocated to assist with elder people employment | Baltic News Network - News from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia
▻http://bnn-news.com/ten-million-euros-to-be-allocated-to-assist-with-elder-people-employment-1

Central Finance and Contracting Agency has sent a proposal to the State Employment Agency to apply for European Social Fund financing to realize measures to maintain and improve elder people employment.

Employment assistance measures are intended for people aged 50 and older who are subjected to the risk of unemployment. In addition, assistance will be provided to people whose education level does not exceed secondary or vocational level or if a person’s return to normal work hours is impeded by a family member’s health and the need to provide care to them. Other conditions for provision of assistance include part-time employment and low income. SEA will provide carrier advice, skill development events and mentor programme, as well as workplace adaptation and other helpful measures, CFLA informs.

#Welfare #Latvia #CFCA #SEA

Economic Diary of Latvia. | Baltic News Network - News from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia
▻http://bnn-news.com/economic-diary-of-latvia-about-strong-women-in-power-151658

This week, members of the Saeima unexpectedly declined amendments that provided for the merging of finance and customs police of the State Revenue Service. After hearing out deputies, Finance Minister Dana Reizniece-Ozola decided not to give up.
This week was rich with all kinds of paradoxes and surprises. For example, it became known that investments of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in Latvia have reached approximately EUR 600 million.
Opposite to claims that Latvia is irrationally using its forests, it turns out that the total forested area in Latvia has doubled since the pre-war period. It continues to increase year after year, according to information from Green House association.

#Economics #Latvia #Ministry_of_finances #Forests #Nature #Investments

KNAB launches inspection in relation to Rimsevics’ declaration
| Baltic News Network - News from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia
▻http://bnn-news.com/knab-launches-inspection-in-relation-to-rimsevics-declaration-151319

Latvian Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau has begun an inspection in relation to information stated in the declaration submitted by the governor of the Bank of Latvia Ilmars Rimsevics.

According to KNAB press-representative Laura Dusa, the bureau plans to assess the declaration for 2015 submitted by Ilmars Rimsevics to check if the document contains information that would breach regulations of the Law on Prevention of Conflict of Interest in Activities of Public Officials.

Last week, at a meeting of Saeima’s Corruption Prevention Sub-committee, deputy Karlis Serzants said Ilmars Rimsevics’ declaration could serve as an appropriate example to allow KNAB to perform inspections of officials’ declarations. In his declaration, Rimsevics stated income from ‘renting out’ his apartment.

#Latvia #KNAB #Rimsevics #Bank_of_Latvia

Estonian households increasingly opt for mobile internet, instead of broadband
| Baltic News Network - News from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia
▻http://bnn-news.com/estonian-households-increasingly-opt-for-mobile-internet-instead-of-broadb

The number of Estonian households with mobile internet connection has increased considerably as opposed to households with broadband internet, according to estimates by the Estonian statistics agency.

ERR reports citing Statistics Estonia that in the first quarter of 2015, over half, or 56 percent, of households had mobile internet, by the first quarter of 2016 more than three in every four households, or 78 percent, had it.

#Estonia #Network #broadband_vs_mobile_internet

Benefits for big and incomplete families will increase in 2017

Benefits for big and incomplete families will increase in 2017 | Baltic News Network - News from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia
▻http://bnn-news.com/benefits-for-big-and-incomplete-families-will-increase-in-2017-151477

Starting from 2017, benefits for families with many children and incomplete families will start receiving bigger state benefits to help reduce the risk of poverty and offer them fairer social benefits.

This is provided by amendments approved for the Law on Social Services and Social Assistance, the State Pension Law and Law on Maternity and Sickness Insurance. More changes to regulations are planned to be approved by the Saeima in relation to state budget legal drafts, as reported by Welfare Ministry.

#Welfare_state #Latvia #benefits #Socioeconomics

Russia plans to halt exports of oil products through Baltic ports

Latvian Latvijas Dzelzceļš is preparing for the moment when Russian Transneft will halt transit of oil products through Baltic ports until 2018, LDz manager Edvins Berzins said in an interview to Rīta Panorāma programme on Tuesday, 13 September.

The news about Transneft’s plans to halt transit of oil products was announced on Monday, 12 September, according to information from lsm.lv.

Berzins said this announcement was not surprising. Russia has been investing funds into the development of its own ports for years. With that, it is only logical that the country would want to return its investments.

«We experience declines year after year,» – Berzins said. Estimates suggest Latvia may lose nearly ten million containers annually.

▻http://bnn-news.com/russia-plans-to-halt-exports-of-oil-products-through-baltic-ports-150969

#LDz #Latvia #Export #Russia #oil_export

Latvian and Estonian politicians added to TOP 70 most influential politicians in EP

MEP Krisjanis Karins is the only Latvian politician who has been added to the study performed by non-government organization VoteWatch Europe about the most influential members of the European Parliament. Karins is put on the 11th place.

Analysis of MEPs based on different parameters, including their overall activity and interviews, shows that the most influential politicians are EP President Martin Schulz, Chairman of the European People’s Party Manfred Weber and the head of the Socialists and Democrats Group Gianni Pittella.
▻http://bnn-news.com/latvian-and-estonian-politicians-added-to-top-70-most-influential-politici

#Latvia #EP #Karins #MEP #politics

Latvia urged to ratify the Istanbul Convention as soon as possible

Latvia has signed the Istanbul Convention. However, it is necessary to ratify the convention as soon as possible, said EU Council’s Human Rights Commissioner Nils Muiznieks at a press-conference on Friday, 9 September.

Muiznieks said discussions of this topic have had to deal with false and misleading information.

«This convention is not against family values. Violence against women is violence aimed against family values. Latvia’s legislation is already largely in line with the convention’s requirements,» – said the commissioner, adding that the level of comprehension on such matters is very high among police officers.

Muiznieks also admitted that the ratification of the convention will help with receiving opinions from experts on the side, review Latvia’s policy and exact improvements to it.

«Most importantly, it would be a good political signal: that violence against women is unacceptable,» – added Muiznieks.

▻http://bnn-news.com/latvia-urged-to-ratify-the-istanbul-convention-as-soon-as-possible-150834

#Istanbul_convention #Latvia #Human_rights #Nils_Muiznieks #EUCouncil

Week in Lithuania. Eurostat: Vilnius is best EU capital to live in; President urges Defence minister to step down etc.

Population of Vilnius is most happy with their life in their city as compared to all other people living in EU capitals, according to a Eurostat survey. Ninety-eight percent of residents of Vilnius said they were satisfied living in their city during the survey carried out last year.

The Lithuanian capital moved up five positions compared with a similar survey taken in 2012. The highest level of satisfaction in Europe was recorded in Oslo, the capital of Norway, which is not an EU member state. Vilnius is followed closely by Stockholm and Copenhagen, 97 per cent each, and Vienna and Luxembourg with 96 per cent. The lowest satisfaction level was recorded in Athens at 71 per cent. Relatively low levels of satisfaction were in Rome at 80 per cent and Bucharest and Paris, at 83 per cent each.

▻http://bnn-news.com/week-in-lithuania-eurostat-vilnius-is-best-eu-capital-to-live-in-150848

#Lithuania #Baltics #Eurostat_survey #Economics #Security

Disk thrower Apinis wins gold at paralympic games in Rio
Latvian Paralympian Aigars Apinis triumphed at Paralympic games in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday, 8 September, by winning gold in the disk-throwing discipline. This is his fourth gold medal in his career.

Apinis, who started in F52 and F51 group, threw the disk for 20.83 m result, which is his best result for this season.

His first attempt resulted in 19.90 m. The second result was an improvement over the first by 12 cm. In his third attempt, Apinis managed a 20.83 m throw, which was the best result among the seven contestants.
▻http://bnn-news.com/disk-thrower-apinis-wins-gold-at-paralympic-games-in-rio-150770

#Latvia #Paralympics2016 #Apinis #diskthrower

Baltic States reach agreement on procurement model for Rail Baltica

Maybe in some 10 years Latvians will have opportunity to travel to Warsaw or Berlin by train...

▻http://bnn-news.com/baltic-states-reach-agreement-on-procurement-model-for-rail-baltica-150675

#Latvia #Baltics #RailBaltica

Saeima calls for temporary halt on resettlement of refugees
Before the next year’s budget is approved, it is necessary to put a temporary halt on resettlement of refugees. Now is right time to review and correct our work. Otherwise we will only waste money on mentors, Latvian language lessons, stories about Latvia and benefits,» – emphasizes Chairman of Citizenship, Migration and Social Cohesion Committee Ilmars Latkovskis.

On Wednesday, 7 September, the committee will gather for the first meeting in the parliament’s autumn session to discuss the situation with resettlement of refugees, as BNN was told by Saeima’s press-service.
▻http://bnn-news.com/saeima-calls-for-temporary-halt-on-resettlement-of-refugees-150569

#Policy #Latvia #Budget2017 #Saeima #Asylum_seekers

None of the resettled refugees have left Estonia so far
None of the asylum seekers that were resettled in Estonia as part of the programme to reduce the migration crisis in the EU has left the country so far. The same cannot be said of Latvia, however.
Estonia’s Social Affairs Ministry’s international protection policy department’s manager Trina Raga told BNS on Tuesday that none of the people who arrived in Estonia as part of the resettlement programme have left the country so far.
▻http://bnn-news.com/none-of-the-resettled-refugees-have-left-estonia-so-far-150579

#Estonia #Baltics #Syria_refugee_crisis #Asylum_seekers

Lithuania sends ammunition to Ukraine, disagrees with calls to lift sanctions
Lithuania has announced that it has supplied combat ammunition to Ukraine and its top diplomat has dismissed calls to lift EU sanctions imposed on Russian officials and companies.

Lithuania says it has supplied lethal weaponry to Ukraine for the first time since 2014.

Reuters cited Lithuanian Joint Chiefs of Staff as stating that about 150 tonnes of ammunition were handed over to Ukraine on September 5, mostly 5.45 calibre cartridges for various modifications of Kalashnikov AK-47 rifle, which the Lithuanian army no longer uses.
▻http://bnn-news.com/lithuania-sends-ammunition-to-ukraine-disagrees-with-calls-to-lift-sanctio

#Lithuania #Ukraine #Sanctions

Putin: claims that Russia could perform a nuclear attack on Baltics are madness
Russian President Vladimir Putin called claims that Russia could engage NATO in an armed conflict and use nuclear arms against neighbouring countries, including Baltic States, delusional.

«I think all sober-minded people who really are involved in politics understand that the idea of a Russian threat to, for example, the Baltics is complete madness,» – Putin said in an interview to Bloomberg.

«Are we really about to fight NATO? How many people live in NATO countries? About 600 million, correct? There are 146 million in Russia. Yes, we’re the biggest nuclear power. But do you really think that we’re about to conquer the Baltics using nuclear weapons? What is this madness?» – said the Russian President.

▻http://bnn-news.com/putin-claims-that-russia-could-perform-a-nuclear-attack-on-baltics-are-mad

#NATO #Russia #Nuclear_power #Baltics