20.05.25 NEWS ... The state-owned energy company Eesti Energia is offering retail investors €10 million worth of bonds with a three-year maturity and a 5 percent interest rate from May 20 to May 30, following the delisting of Enefit Green from the stock exchange.

20.05.25 NEWS ... The European Commission has downgraded its spring forecast for economic growth both for Estonia and the bloc as a whole, compared with last autumn and last spring's forecasts.

19.05.25 NEWS ... According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Estonia's economy is recovering, but structural issues need to be addressed and more stable sources of revenue must be found to cover rising budget expenditures.

19.05.25 NEWS ... The new ETS2 emissions trading system is likely to drive up the price of gasoline, diesel and home heating more than previously expected. The government hopes to mitigate the price hikes by using nearly €100 million in EU funds to support initiatives such as the renovation of apartment buildings.

19.05.25 NEWS ... Latvian carrier airBaltic has announced it will be postponing a planned initial public offering (IPO), citing unsuitable market conditions.

18.05.25 NEWS ... Estonia is seeking permission from the European Commission to sell seal products derived from culling within the European Union, joining Finland and Sweden in the appeal.

17.05.25 NEWS ... Rail Baltic Estonia on Friday signed the largest infrastructure construction contracts in Estonian history, with a total value potentially reaching nearly €1 billion. Project teams led by companies from Finland and France will complete the Estonian section of the Rail Baltica railway by 2030.

16.05.25 NEWS ... Minister of Regional Affairs and Agriculture Hendrik Johannes Terras plans to initiate a special audit of Eesti Post (Omniva) to gain a clearer understanding of the impact of the company's past management decisions.

15.05.25 NEWS ... Employers will have more flexibility to hire foreign specialists after the government agreed to create new exemptions for wages and skills.

15.05.25 NEWS ... In the first quarter of this year, there were 64,200 unemployed people in Estonia — the highest figure in the past 12 years, according to data from Statistics Estonia. The unemployment rate stood at 8.6 percent, while the employment rate was 67.4 percent.

14.05.25 NEWS ... The Supreme Court of Estonia en banc has ruled that parts of the Unemployment Insurance Act violate the Constitution by unreasonably reducing unemployment benefits for people who worked during parental leave.

14.05.25 NEWS ... The voluntary takeover offer by Eesti Energia to minority shareholders of Enefit Green, which concluded on Monday, increased Eesti Energia's stake in Enefit Green to 97.2 percent. This means Eesti Energia is now entitled to acquire the remaining shares in exchange for financial compensation.

14.05.25 NEWS ... Five cruise ships are scheduled to call at Tallinn's Old City Harbor this Wednesday, bringing nearly 8,000 cruise tourists to explore the Estonian capital. In all, 115 cruise ship calls are planned for Tallinn during the 2025 summer season.

14.05.25 NEWS ... The Riigikogu is set to hold the first reading of a bill that would impose a logging ban in Natura 2000 areas. Although the proposed changes stem from infringement proceedings by the European Commission, the deputy chair of the Environment Committee says there is no consensus on the bill.

14.05.25 NEWS ... Starting in May, those interested can become Omniva "citizen couriers" to earn extra income by delivering packages. The pilot project is taking place in Tallinn, but if successful, the state-owned postal company plans to expand the platform-based work model to other regions as well.

13.05.25 NEWS ... Tallinn City Government on Tuesday decided to merge all of the city's hospitals, although they stressed nothing will initially change in the provision of healthcare services.

13.05.25 NEWS ... Elron CEO Lauri Betlem says it's the quality of service — more than price — that determines whether people choose the train over other modes of transport, citing the passenger rail operator's westbound routes as an example.

13.05.25 NEWS ... Quick loan providers are not directly predicting a collapse in business following the suspension of expedited payment orders and say they are ready to adapt to the new process. However, they are calling for clear and automatic checks to assess responsible lending practices.

12.05.25 NEWS ... Entrepreneurs developing the Hipodroomi area in Tallinn are constructing an underground tunnel nearly a quarter of a kilometer long beneath the future district, moving car traffic below ground. The tunnel is expected to be completed within a year and will cost approximately €5 million.

12.05.25 NEWS ... Real estate developer Arco Vara has signed a deal to purchase the Luther Quarter in Tallinn and will develop homes, offices, and leisure facilities on the site. The total investment exceeds €200 million.

12.05.25 NEWS ... Starting today, more than 330 online stores are taking part in E-Monday (E-smaspäev) with their special offers, making it the largest joint campaign of Estonian online retailers to date.

12.05.25 NEWS ... Eesti Energia's voluntary takeover offer to Enefit Green shareholders ends on Monday. During the offer period, retail investors can accept the offer through their online bank or brokerage platform used to purchase Enefit Green shares.

12.05.25 NEWS ... Exports continued to rise in March, with growth of 17 percent, data from Statistics Estonia show. In the first quarter, both exports and imports of goods were up by 14 percent.

12.05.25 NEWS ... Ministries have compiled initial proposals for redirecting a total of €200 million in EU funds — originally earmarked for other sectors — toward defense over the coming years. The Ministry of Climate faces the largest reallocation, scaling back plans by €85 million.

10.05.25 NEWS ... For quick loan lenders, the suspension of payment order processing for quick loan borrowers could threaten the entire business model. For collection agencies, it may mean significantly more work and delays.

10.05.25 NEWS ... Starting next year, certain supermarkets and gas stations will allow card payments even during internet outages, including those caused by possible sabotage. Meanwhile, the EU is also seeking ways to reduce its reliance on U.S.-based payment networks such as Visa and Mastercard.

10.05.25 NEWS ... In a governance plan sent to the Reform Party and Eesti 200 as inspiration while they draw up a new coalition deal, the nonparliamentary Parempoolsed has proposed expanding mandatory military service — or conscription — to all citizens, including women. The party is also calling for several taxes to be lowered or repealed altogether.

09.05.25 NEWS ... Until now, renovation grants for apartment associations in Estonia were awarded based on how quickly applications were submitted. Starting this summer, however, an €80 million round will prioritize support for buildings where renovations would result in the largest reductions in energy consumption.

09.05.25 NEWS ... In March, Estonian accommodation establishments hosted 19 percent fewer tourists than during the same month last year. Tallink Group CEO Paavo Nõgene said that Estonia has become an increasingly expensive destination and fewer Finns than before are visiting.

09.05.25 NEWS ... Accommodation establishments in Estonia served a total of 217,000 tourists this March — down 9 percent on year, including a 7 percent drop in foreign tourists and an 11 percent drop in domestic tourists, Statistics Estonia said Thursday.

09.05.25 NEWS ... With the approval of the Financial Supervision Authority, TBB Bank has begun voluntary termination of operations and liquidation proceedings. The company, which no longer holds a banking license, asserts that it has sufficient funds to meet all obligations to its clients.

09.05.25 NEWS ... Beekeeper Katri Kaar says the Western Estonian island of Hiiumaa is a "honey island," because its special honey is very rich in plant species — boasting the nectar of some 30-40 different plants.

09.05.25 NEWS ... According to Minister of Regional Affairs Hendrik Terras, the recent financial results of the state-owned postal company Omniva, also known as Eesti Post, have fallen short of expectations and the situation must change. However, five-day home delivery of mail should remain in place for residents.

09.05.25 NEWS ... The first spa hotel in Alutaguse Municipality, Ida-Viru County, is currently under construction and is set to open year-round tourism along the northern shore of Lake Peipus.

08.05.25 NEWS ... On Thursday, the Estonian government made the measure to raise VAT and income tax to 24 percent permanent. Center Party MP Andrei Korobeinik says the change will make life more difficult for people with low incomes.

08.05.25 NEWS ... The Estonian government has decided to channel €200 million of unused money from the Cohesion Policy Fund into strengthening defense capabilities over the coming years.

08.05.25 NEWS ... Tartu-based energy technology startup GaltTec has conducted its first out-of-lab demonstration of their fuel cell technology, and has begun talks over potential pilot projects on the international stage, starting in Japan.

08.05.25 NEWS ... The government has approved the first set of proposals from the Council on Efficiency and Economic Growth, which primarily concern reducing workplace requirements, eliminating the alcohol registry and simplifying the refinancing of home loans.

08.05.25 NEWS ... The measure to hike VAT to 24 percent under the temporary defense tax was made permanent by the government on Thursday. The rate will rise in July.

08.05.25 NEWS ... In the first quarter of 2025, the Estonian state-owned energy group Eesti Energia's revenue rose 6 percent on year to €530 million, with profit also up 6 percent to €93.4 million.

08.05.25 NEWS ... The Latvian government decided this week that the Ministry of Climate and Energy (KEM) will evaluate cooperation opportunities with Estonia regarding the development of nuclear energy regulations and the construction of a nuclear power plant.

08.05.25 NEWS ... The consumer price index (CPI) rose by 1 percent between March and April 2025, state agency Statistics Estonia reported.

07.05.25 NEWS ... Infortar head Ain Hanschmidt said on "Esimene stuudio" that the desire to purchase Estonia Farmid was primarily based on biogas production, but dairy output added further value to the deal.

07.05.25 NEWS ... The Prosecutor's Office has launched a criminal investigation to examine information that came to light during a special audit of Eesti Energia conducted in the fall. In a separate proceeding, the Environmental Board fined Enefit Power €190,000 over the exceedance of pollutant and particulate matter limits in 2023.

07.05.25 NEWS ... While a U.S.-led trade war has triggered global uncertainty and slower growth, SEB Pank forecasts Estonia's economy will grow a modest 1.8 percent in 2025, but by 3 percent in 2026, outpacing both the U.S. and the EU for next year.

06.05.25 NEWS ... Estonia's economy is projected to grow by 1.2 percent in 2025, according to Swedbank's latest economic outlook. This marks a 0.3 percentage point downgrade from the bank's previous estimate.

06.05.25 NEWS ... Estonian politicians welcomed the European Union's plans to ban Russian gas in the coming years, saying Russia has no place in the bloc's energy markets.

06.05.25 NEWS ... When ownership of hobby cars changes, it is often the case that no money changes hands and the vehicles are simply exchanged. Nevertheless, both new owners are required to pay a hefty registration fee.

06.05.25 NEWS ... This March, the total production of industrial enterprises in Estonia increased by 0.5 percent on year at constant prices, with output up 1.2 percent in manufacturing but down 1.7 percent in energy production and 6.1 percent in mining, Statistics Estonia said Tuesday.

06.05.25 NEWS ... Estonian-founded Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) platform Skype ended its operations for good on Monday, after nearly 22 years of existence.