EU names 24 new people, 14 firms in Russia sanctions
EU countries have added Russia’s top oil firms, an oligarch, and a leading nationalist MP to their blacklist. The names were published in the bloc´s Official Journal on Friday (12 September) in reaction to Russia’s invasion of east Ukraine last week. … Read More
Ministers call for more action on environmental crimes
A proposal to lower the threshold for bringing criminal charges in cases of environmental damage has gained the support of Interior Minister Päivi Räsänen. But there are warnings that the law change needs to be backed up with more training … Read More
Dramatic drop in gas supply from Russia
Poland recorded a 45 percent decline yesterday in the expected influx of Russian gas. Polish natural gas network operator PGNiG has said that gas supplies through entry points on the Ukrainian and Belarusian borders have been lower since Monday. On … Read More
Sweden’s asylum influx worries Denmark
With immigration a hot topic in the lead-up to the Swedish elections, Danish politicians warn about the negative consequences of their neighbours’ generous asylum policies. With Sweden taking in a record number of asylum seekers – 340,000 are expected over … Read More
Estonia spends 16 million euros to implement cyber security strategy
The Estonian government approved on today the Cyber Security Strategy for the period 2014-2017, which aims to increase the state’s cyber security capacities and awareness of people of cyber threats, LETA/Public Broadcasting reports. The total cost of the activities of … Read More
Report calls for cell phone ban in classrooms
Mobile phones should be banned from classrooms and students should receive reports on their conduct, according to a new report on how to make Swedish classrooms more orderly. The report, headed up by former teachers’ association president Metta Fjelkner, stated … Read More
Latvia and Lithuania among hardest hit by Russia sanctions says EBRD
A new report published yesterday by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) confirms what many Latvian farmers, fishermen and food producers already know only too well - that the country will be among those hardest hit by the sanctions … Read More
Clearer marking of Estonian-Russian border waiting for ratification
South Estonian Police Prefect Tarmo Kohv asserted that Estonia’s border with Russia is protected, but it would simplify the guarding of the border greatly if the border treaty between the two states finally came in force, LETA/Public Broadcasting reports. “The … Read More
Poland hopes Tusk will create an EU Energy Union
In his capacity of Prime Minister of Poland, Donald Tusk has spearheaded the idea of an EU energy Union, and leading Polish politicians expect him to continue to do so as Council President, when he will take up the job … Read More
Demand for chicken pox vaccine grows
Chicken pox are spreading as daycare and schools have opened again after summer recess. Demand for the vaccine, Valirix, has avalanched, but it’s not included in the general immunization program. At private clinics, it costs a total of between SEK … Read More
The EU sanctions cost millions
The losses Kaliningrad companies that can no longer carry into their territory already paid goods as a result of the ban are estimated at over nine million dollars. That explained the Deputy Prime Minister of Territorial Government, Konstantin Suslov, in … Read More
Deadly bacteria found in waters near west coast fur farms
Officials have found evidence of E.coli and enterococcal bacteria in waters of the Fäboda tributary near fur farms in Pietarsaari, western Finland. Because of the findings, health officials say they don’t recommend swimming in the popular recreational area. Yle’s A-Studio … Read More
New criminal cases against Lithuanians who refused to serve in Soviet army
Russia has reopened 25-year-old cases that may lead to criminal charges against young people who refused to serve in the Soviet army in 1990-1991, shows a request for legal assistance received by the Lithuanian Prosecutor General´s Office. “We have received … Read More
German exports top record €100 billion
Germany’s trade surplus grew strongly in July on the back of booming exports. The country exported a record amount of goods. Germany exported goods worth €101 billion in July, up 4.7 percent from the figure for June and an increase of … Read More
First case of African swine fever possibly detected in Estonia
Last week, a wild boar piglet was found near Hummuli, South Estonia, who apparently was infected with African swine fever, LETA/Public Broadcasting reports. “The dead wild boar that was diseased was found 6 km from the Latvian border. The disease … Read More
Polish minister calls for €700 billion EU infrastructure investment fund
The EU should establish a temporary investment fund capable of paying for infrastructure projects worth €700 billion, Poland’s finance minister has said. In a speech a the Bruegel think-tank on Thursday (4 September), Polish finance minister Mateusz Szczurek called for … Read More
Denmark ready to send troops to Baltics
Danish PM Helle Thorning-Schmidt today said Denmark is willing to send up to 300 troops to Poland and the Baltic nations as part of a NATO rotating unit. The company will be deployed for up to 90 days on a … Read More
Ebola fears slow Swedish tourism to Africa
The Ebola outbreak in West Africa is keeping Swedish tourists at bay, news agency TT reports, even from African nations that have no known cases of the deadly tropical disease. Swedish tour operator Ving recently cancelled trips to Gambia because … Read More
Helsinki needs more fresh ideas from foreign entrepreneurs
More than half of the fledgling firms involved with EnterpriseHelsinki are started by people with immigrant backgrounds. The agency hopes they will bring more concrete ideas for technologies and inventions with export potential, rather than just adding to the ocean … Read More