The Competition Authority (Konkurentsiamet) analyzed the renewable energy subsidy schemes implemented in Estonia and their economic impact and has recommended switching to a market-based solution and phasing out renewable energy subsidies. In 2007, the Electricity Market Act set the period of support for renewable energy at 12 years. This means that a company that started production in 2007 received support until 2019, the Competition Authority said. Although the transition to…
Posts published in Day: February 19, 2021
Avian flu found in more wild birds in Latvia
Friday, February 19, 2021Fourteen more wild waterfowl – twelve swans, a heron and a Canadian goose – have been tested positive for the highly pathogenic avian influenza, the Food and Veterinary Service (PVD) said February 19. The birds were found in various places in Latvia – Lapmežciems, Jūrmala, Ragaciems, Dārziņi, Vērgale, Ventspils. To date, a total of 35 wild water birds have been tested in laboratory, of which 20 have been found to have the…
Amb. Mkrtchyan briefs Lithuanian MEPs on the aftermath of Azerbaijan’s aggression against Artsakh
Friday, February 19, 2021Armenia’s Ambassador to Lithuania Tigran Mkrtchyan had meetings with Lithuanian Members of the European Parliament Juozas Olekas and Petras Austrevicius. Ambassador Mkrtchyan briefed the interlocutors on the situation and recent developments in Armenia and Artsakh after the war unleashed by Azerbaijan. Special emphasis was placed on the urgency of resolving the issue of war prisoners and resumption of negotiations on the status of Artsakh. The prospects of Armenia-EU relations, the…
Lithuania proud to be the 1st country to have recognized Armenia’s independence
Friday, February 19, 2021Lithuania is proud to be the 1st country in the world to have recognized the independence of Armenia, and one of the first countries with which Armenia established diplomatic relations in 1991, the Embassy of Lithuania to Armenia said in a Facebook post. This year marks the 30th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between Lithuania and Armenia. The cooperation has since deepened and expanded, creating a strong partnership and…
Hacker leaks personal data of 110,000 Lithuanians, including government officials
Friday, February 19, 2021A criminal investigation into the leak of 110,000 Lithuianians’ personal data is underway after a hacker posted a list obtained from an unsecured database backup in return for $1,000 in bitcoin. The data was harvested in 2018 from the car-sharing service CityBee, whose backup systems were reportedly unsecure. Within the information stolen included national identity numbers, names, telephone numbers, email addresses, and car registration numbers but no financial information had been…
Estonian Intelligence: Russians will develop deepfake threats
Friday, February 19, 2021Russia continues to be the ‘primary threat’ to the EU in cyberspace, presenting intensifying dangers in terms of online espionage, cyberattacks, and also a likely turn to deepfake technology in the near future, a new report from the Estonian intelligence services says. Published on Wednesday (17 February), the annual security assessment from Estonia’s Foreign Intelligence Service noted that Russia continues to apply certain ‘KGB-style’ tactics in cyberspace to sow discord…
Lithuania has enough vaccines to speed up vaccinations
Friday, February 19, 2021Lithuania has enough COVID-19 vaccines to accelerate the immunization program, a presidential advisor said on Thursday. “We received around 70,000 (doses of) vaccines last week, which would allow increasing the pace of vaccinations,” Simonas Krepsta, President Gitanas Nauseda’s chief economic and social policy advisor, told LRT Radio. If the pace is not accelerated, vaccines may start to accumulate in warehouses, according to the advisor. “If the vaccination rate remains the…
Lithuanian MP Guoga galutinai paliko Seimą
Friday, February 19, 2021Vyriausioji rinkimų komisija (VRK) penktadienį galutinai leido Antanui Guogai palikti Seimą. Buvęs europarlamentaras, pokerio žaidėjas ir verslininkas atvyko į posėdį ir neteko Seimo nario mandato. Jo vietą netrukus užims partijos kolega Artūras Skardžius. Nuo vasario 20 dienos A.Guoga Seimo nariu nebebus, o jo vietą užims po brūkšniu likęs Darbo partijos narys Artūras Skardžius. Buvęs Seimo narys po posėdžio tikino nesidžiaugiantis, kad laisvą vietą užims būtent jis, tačiau sakė, kad darbas…
Finland premier tells Estonia counterpart travel restrictions may soon ease
Friday, February 19, 2021Entry into Finland from Estonia may become easier in future, if mandatory coronavirus testing is enacted on the Finnish border, that country’s prime minister, Sanna Marin, said Friday. At the moment, the border is closed to all bar the most pressing cases, which has caused issues given the large number of Estonian citizens and residents who commute between the two countries. Speaking at a press conference with Estonian Prime Minister…
Some beauty services to be available starting March 1 in Latvia
Friday, February 19, 2021Lower-risk beauty service providers – hairdressers and manicurists/pedicurists – will be able to start working again come March, government decided on February 18. After a long debate, Latvian government decided that the beauty industry would resume work step by step, and the first step would be allowing hairdresser, manicure and pedicure services to take place. This, along with additional safety measures, would be in force March 1. Though Economics Ministry…