About: Baltics
EU and US criticise Russian gas cutoff, commit to strengthen EU energy security
The European Commission and the United States reiterated their commitment to EU energy security and slammed cutoffs of Russian gas as “unjustified and unacceptable” in a joint statement.
Synthetic fuels can bolster energy security in the Baltic region
Despite coming a long way in becoming more energy independent, the Baltics still heavily rely on imported crude oil for their military and civil fuel demand. This could prove to be a challenge in the event of a regional crisis as seaborne oil shipments might face disruptions, argues Lukas Trakimavičius and Christophe Nave.
Unexpected alliances forged in Europe: France and the Baltics
The newly forged Franco-Baltic friendship stands as an addition to the multilateral security and cooperation structures and does not mean the Baltics are trading Brussels for Paris just yet, but their revamped cooperation, particularly on cybersecurity and disinformation, is set to continue, writes Monika Bickauskaite.
How Baltics tried and failed to end war in Nagorno-Karabakh
When the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, a region disputed by Azerbaijan and Armenia, began in the late 1980s, Lithuania and the Baltic states helped bring the warring sides to the negotiating table in Riga. Despite sharing tea, jokes, and reaching an early breakthrough – the deal ultimately failed.
Baltics open Europe’s first pandemic ‘travel bubble’ as curbs ease
Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia opened their borders to each other at the stroke of midnight, creating the first "travel bubble" within the European Union in a bid to jump-start economies broken down by the coronavirus pandemic.
Turkey not backing down in NATO defence plans dispute – source
Ankara will resist efforts by its NATO allies to persuade it to back an alliance defence plan for the Baltics and Poland until its demands are met over a plan for Turkey's defence, a Turkish diplomatic source said on Wednesday (27 November).
Fighting ‘fake news’ online: How soldiers in Latvia got fooled by bots
When NATO's Centre for Strategic Communication in Riga discovered how easy it was to dupe its soldiers online, it has started looking for ways of countering false information, which comes, in large part, from Russia. EURACTIV's media partner der Tagesspiegel reports.
Poland wins €215m EU grant for gas link to Norway
The European Commission today officially signed a €214.9 million grant for works on a new Baltic gas pipeline project aimed at connecting Poland and Denmark with Norway.
Estonia calls for deployment of US troops, Patriot missiles
Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid called for US Patriot missiles and troops to be deployed to her small Baltic state yesterday (4 April), telling AFP it was necessary to make deterrence "believable" for Russia.
Baltic ministers prepare US summit for ‘sending message to Putin’
Foreign ministers from the Baltic states, three exposed allies on NATO's eastern flank, visited Washington on Monday (5 March) to urge Western leaders not to respond naively to Russian threats.
Russia’s Zapad war games unnerve West
From planes, radars and ships in the Baltics, NATO officials say they are watching Russia's biggest war games since 2013 with "calm and confidence", but many are unnerved about what they see as Moscow testing its ability to wage war against the West.
Lithuania says Russia has ability to launch Baltic attack in 24 hours
Russia has developed the capability to launch an attack on the Baltic States with as little as 24 hours' notice, limiting NATO's options to respond other than to have military forces already deployed in the region, Lithuania's intelligence service said today (3 April).
NATO reassures Russia over troop deployments
NATO will seek to reassure Russia today (19 December) that its troop deployments in the Baltics and Poland next year are purely defensive, in a rare meeting of the alliance's and Kremlin's envoys that is unlikely to resolve long-standing grievances.
Ponomaryev: Consensus rules make EU weak against Putin
Consensus voting doesn’t help the EU to stand strong against an ever more assertive Russia, Ilya Ponomaryev, Russian opposition figure and a former member of the State Duma, told EURACTIV Poland in an exclusive, wide-ranging interview.
Russia beefs up Baltic Fleet with cruise missile-armed ships
Russia is reinforcing its Baltic Fleet in Kaliningrad with two small warships armed with long-range cruise missiles to counter what it sees as a worrying NATO build-up in the region, Izvestia reported today (26 October).
NATO builds up battle groups to deter Russia
NATO will press allies today (26 October) to contribute to its biggest military build-up on Russia's borders since the Cold War, as the alliance prepares for a protracted quarrel with Moscow.
Commission accused over Baltic cod fishing limits
Conservationists have blamed the European Commission for being “picky” regarding the scientific advice it used to propose fishing limits in the Baltic Sea.
Direct subsidies can spur green transport innovation, regions told
Handing subsidies, including EU funding, directly to local governments - rather than to industry - can spur green innovation in public transport, regional leaders were told today (13 October).
EU slams Russian sentencing of Estonian officer
The European Union demanded Russia release an Estonian police officer sentenced on Wednesday to 15 years in jail for spying, nearly a year after the EU says Eston Kohver was abducted by Russian agents from Estonia territory.
Latvian PM: If Russia attacks NATO, the treaty will be enforced
Ahead of the Eastern Partnership summit in May, Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma of Latvia, which currently holds the Presidency of the EU, warned that if necessary, Article 5 of the NATO treaty will be enforced. We will not go back to the Soviet Union, she told EURACTIV in an exclusive interview.
Poland says Russian manoeuvres in Baltic unprecedented
Russia's military is engaging in an unprecedented amount of activity around the Baltic Sea, Polish Defence Minister Tomasz Siemoniak said on Thursday (11 December).