BODร, Norway โ Half a mile inside a mountain in the north of Norway, the U.K. is preparing for war. The countryโs military planners have travelled to Bodรธ, nestled between the sea and snow-capped peaks of the Arctic Circle, to rehearse what it would look like if Russia decided to unleash hostile activity on its [โฆ]
The Latvian prime minister called the decision “a victory of democracy, rule of law and women’s rights”
If the Latvian president signs the motion, the Baltic state will become the first and only EU country to leave the convention
Lawmakers voted to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention just a year after it came into force, with the move awaiting approval from Latvia’s president.
Latviaโs parliament voted on Thursday to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention on preventing violence against women, claiming it promotes โgenderโ theories. The decision would make Latvia the first European Union member to quit the treaty, which lawma…
Countries are not yet on the same page about how to protect children from the harms of the online world.
After Ukraineโs leader struck out at the White House last Friday, his European friends will try to strengthen his hand before itโs too late.ย
The EU executive wants to coordinate efforts by member countries to speed up defense preparations.
โWe have a lot of different names for a lot of different formats. I wish we’d have as much money. That would be much more helpful,โ said Lithuania’s defence minister
A majority of NATO countries have joined the PURL scheme, and the rest are under pressure “to put your money where your mouth is.”
A factory on the edge of the EU needs to prove that the bloc can reduce its reliance on China while ensuring a future for fossil fuel workers.
Russian citizens affected by Riga’s tightening of immigration rules will receive government help to “settle and adapt” in their home country.
As well as Belgium, Cyprus, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Malta, and Slovakia, six non-EU countries received so-called “AI Antennas” โ including Switzerland and the UK
Drawing the top stories around the globe.
Russian citizens who failed to comply with Rigaโs new immigration rules must leave by Oct. 13 or risk deportation.
Ukrainian intelligence official says โevidence of a high level of cooperation between Russia and China in conducting satellite reconnaissanceโ. What we know on day 1,320China is providing intelligence to Russia to enable Moscow to better launch missile…
Repeated Russian incursions are increasing pressure on the EU and NATO to respond.
The country ranks second in the EU for alcohol-attributable deaths.
We sit down withย Valdis Dombrovskis, EU Commissioner for Economy and Productivity and a former prime minister of Latvia. He comments on the recentย drone incursions into EU airspace. He also discusses France’s budget deficit, which is around 5.4 percen…
The European Commission still has to define the scheme’s technical and financial details.
Denmark has joined Estonia, Latvia. Finland, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Bulgaria in the project to build a ‘drone wall’ alongside the Eastern flank.
A new round of discussions will involve seven bloc nations, Ukraine and the European Commission.
A temporary precaution taken during Russia’s recent war games is turning into a shutdown of ChinaโEU rail freight, worth โฌ25 billion annually.
Gideon Saar warns any action against his country โwill receive an appropriate responseโ. This live blog is closedNordic correspondentDenmark is for the first time to buy long-range precision weapons such as missiles and drones, Mette Frederiksen has ab…
Poland remains on high alert after an unprecedented incursion into its territory by Russian drones last week.
Hundreds of thousands of Russians still visit Europe every year. The EU wants countries to make that harder.
Decision casts doubt over whether EU can present climate plan in time for U.N. gathering this month.
Allies don’t have cost-effective counter-measures to deal with cheap Russian drones.
The letter comes after proposed US budget cuts have put the Baltic Security Initiative at risk
It’s a reaction to the incursion of about 19 Russian drones invading Polish airspace on Wednesday.
Lithuania is โcurrently assessing possible implicationsโ of potential US defence aid cuts, as the Baltics await Congressโs decision on whether funding will continue
The European Commission president also announces a drone alliance with Ukraine.
This marks a major departure from the first Trump administration, which emphasized deterring Beijing.
Countries bordering Russia have faced hybrid warfare, including GPS disruptions, for years, Vilnius says.
President Alar Karis warns that all European countries should be prepared for Russian provocations.
Commission president was on a tour of frontline states when her plane was target of interference.
European Commission president’s trip comes on the heels of Germany’s Rheinmetall announcing that it plans two new factories in Bulgaria to establish the country as Europeโs largest gunpowder manufacturer.
European Commission president is on a tour of the so-called front-line states to reassure them of the EU’s support against Russian aggression.
In one of her most forceful criticisms yet of the Russian leader, the Commission president called on โall of Europeโ to step up its readiness
The tour marks a major effort to show EU solidarity and support for countries bordering Russia or Belarus.
European unease is palpable as U.S. president moves to get rid of key Federal Reserve official.
Restoring the EUโs drained bogs would stop both Russian tanks and planet-warming pollution.
โWe are with you every step of the way,” the Canadian prime minister said in independence day ceremony.
A statement said Israel’s plans were ‘unacceptable and a violation of international law.โ
The Kremlin is dragging out talks and refusing to make any concessions, Brusselsโ most senior envoy said in an apparent break from colleagues.
A call between Trump and EU leaders gave them hope that he’ll protect their interests in any Ukraine peace deal. It may not last.
“We have seen President Trump putting incredible pressure on Russia,” Mark Rutte said.
Vilnius is asking for more resources to address air threats as Russia’s bombardment of Ukraine continues.
Latvia is leading a grassroots transformation towards a more inclusive and gender-equal football culture, boosted by the EU-funded TARGET project.
Eighteen countries signed up by the deadline but any latecomers won’t be turned away.
Governments can decide to ask for cheap loans from the EU before Tuesday’s deadline.
Moscow continues to use a 2002 extremism law to shield the Orthodox Church and the Kremlin. Critics say the courts are inventing threats to do the government’s bidding.
Few foreign visitors venture much beyond Riga. They are missing out
The defense of our countries now hinges on younger generations. Let’s invite them to contribute their ideas.
The decision to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention follows similar decisions by Kyiv’s allies Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia – which also border Russia.
Drawing the top stories around the globe.
Construction on the 870-km-long Rail Baltica through Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia is gathering momentum, as the line switches from the Russian broad gauge to the European standard gauge. The EU is covering a large part of the costs.
A POLITICO analysis reveals telling gaps between the big spenders near Eastern Europe and those further from Russia, who are still creeping toward a decade-old target.
The administration has demanded that allies commit to spending at least 5 percent of GDP on defense.
Dr Benedikt Riedl,
Mjur (Oxford), postdoctoral researcher
and academic assistant at the Chair of Public Law and Legal Philosophy (Prof Dr
Peter M. Huber, former Justice of the Federal Constitutional Court and former
Minister of the Interior…
Riga also wants prohibition on Kremlin soldiers from entering the Schengen Area.
Left-leaning party representatives from 10 EU countries set to attend.
Israeli airspace is closed due to intense missile fire.
Aleksejs Rosฤผikovs was detained following a recent “unethical” outburst in parliament.
From stockpiling trauma kits for mass casualties to kitting out medics with body armor, wartime health planning is no longer hypothetical on NATOโs eastern flank.
The Riga parliament overwhelmingly voted in favor of restricting travel for members of parliament and state officials, citing national security and safety concerns.
โClear procedures are crucial, as is the rapid exchange of information,โ says Lithuanian interior minister.
On 15 June 1940, the Red Army began the annexation of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia18 June 1940 Continue reading…
Amid geopolitical storms and the rise of populism, the โNordic-Baltic eightโ is gaining clout as a bulwark of western resolveWith Europeโs political kaleidoscope spinning wildly in the populist winds, a group of northern countries is gaining weight as …
With the next parliamentary elections set for October 2026, the recent municipal results signal a growing momentum for the populist Latvia First party.
Romania, France and Spain have some of the highest infant mortality rates in the EU between 2023 and 2024, while Latvia and Sweden have the lowest rates.
Sofia gets the green light despite rule-of-law and money-laundering concerns.
To protect themselves from unpleasant surprises, Poland and the Baltic states are fortifying their EU external border with tank barriers and minefields. And Latvia has introduced โmilitary lessonsโ as a compulsory subject in schools.
โThe single fund would be the end,โ Portugal warns, as EU agriculture ministers resist a Commission push to overhaul farm and regional funding.
The new target is expected to be agreed at next month’s NATO summit.
The move comes as EU diplomats warn the bloc is inching closer to deploying its “nuclear option” against Hungary.
Secretary-General Alain Berset warned that courts must not be “weaponized” for political gain.
Document spearheaded by Italy and Denmark also calls for an end to the exploitation of migrants by hostile states.
Heavy combat unit of 4,800 soldiers and 200 civilian staff inaugurated in Lithuania on Natoโs eastern flankThe German chancellor has visited Lithuania to mark Berlinโs first permanent foreign troop deployment since the second world war, as he called on…
The EU’s ‘competitiveness’ mantra appears to be swaying more countries to back the pharmaceutical industry.
Post Office Money report finds Latviaโs capital most competitive on price
Security agency warns people in Baltic state to be wary of nosy small talk and tourists with specialist equipmentOne of Latviaโs intelligence services has warned its citizens that there may be Russian saboteurs and spies in their midst, and given them …
Ukrainians record 734 attacks despite Putinโs claim of three-day halt to fighting; Britain further targets Russian oil โshadow fleetโ. What we know on day 1,171Donald Trump after a phone call with Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for โideally, a 30-day uncon…
“Security of all people travelling through Lithuania, including leaders, is our highest priority, so we took this decision,” Lithuania’s president said.
Germany is the only one of Europe’s big five economies to take up the EU executives offer.
German lawmaker Nils Schmid argues there is no need to open the subject as the U.S. has not said it would withdraw its nuclear umbrella.
Finland, Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania cite rising threats from Russia to justify once again using one of worldโs most indiscriminate weaponsRights groups have expressed alarm and warned of a โslippery slopeโ of again embracing one of the world…
European capitals are divided on how to respond to a probable reduction of America’s military presence.
Heat spreads eastwards into the Baltics and western Russia, although colder air will sweep in by the weekendAfter a spell of record-breaking heat last week, eastern Europe and western parts of Russia will experience further unseasonable warmth in the n…
In todayโs edition of The Capitals, read about Trump and Meloni saying they โfully expectโ an EU-US trade deal, Poland boosting its troop presence and eyeing defence ties with Latvia, and so much more.
Warsaw hopes increased cooperation will aid sectors beyond defence.
The project aims to make it easier to move troops and equipment between Poland and the Baltic countries.
Carlos Cuerpo and Rimantas ล adลพius are considering running for the Eurogroup presidency.
Ukrainian president says legalities almost finalised and officials signal US concessions in talks that are progressing โquite fastโ; deadly Shahed strike on Dnipro. What we know on day 1,149Minerals deal negotiators have made โgood progressโ, the Ukrai…
The latest news from across Europe, all in one place
A new study reveals alarming data on the state of driving in Latvia, Austria, and Greece.
The wordless aftermath of a global catastrophe sees a cat team up with other creatures in tremendously imagined apocalyptic visionHumans are nowhere to be seen and the animals have taken over in this gorgeous animated adventure that was the dark horse …
Matteo Zamboni (human
rights lawyer working between Italy and the UK. He is a partner to the
Immigration Law and Policy clinic of Goldsmiths, University of London)
Photo: The towers of the Court of Justice in the Luxembourg fog (c)…
Twelve EU capitals want programs to bring over American scholars.
Allies voice deep skepticism as Trump and Putin hold a 90-minute call.
