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Articles by Ingrid Landeiro
Estonia preparing to pass the country's first space law
Until now, space activities in Estonia have not been regulated by a single law. Gloria Kõgel, a space sector expert at the Ministry of Economic Affairs, said the field has so far been a gray area. "At the same time, Estonia is a party to an international space treaty, more specifically the UN Outer Space Treaty, and the state is required to ensure that space activities carried out under its jurisdiction are subject to appropriate authorization and supervision.
Eesti valmistub vastu võtma riigi esimest kosmoseseadust
Eestis pole seni kosmosetegevust ühtse seadusega reguleerinud. Majandusministeeriumi kosmosevaldkonna ekspert Gloria Kõgel selgitas, et seni oli tegemist halli alaga. "Aga samal ajal on Eesti rahvusvahelise kosmoselepingu osaline, täpsemalt ÜRO avakosmoselepingu [osaline], ning riigil on kohustus tagada, et tema jurisdiktsiooni all toimuv kosmosetegevus toimuks vastava loa alusel ja järelevalve all.
Economists warn of uneven demand as Estonia's manufacturing declines
In June, the growth of sales revenue in manufacturing also slowed — in the first half of the year, sales revenue increased by one percent, but compared with last year's growth, this was a significantly weaker result, Mertsina noted. According to Statistics Estonia, industrial companies produced 4.6% less output in June 2026 at constant prices than at the same time last year. Statistics Estonia lead analyst Riin Kadarik noted that manufacturing output decreased for the fifth consecutive month.
Banned sex crimes database creators have little faith in ministry's criminal records reform
Justice Minister Liisa Pakosta (Eesti 200) said that direct links to criminal records often made it possible to identify victims, leading to their revictimization. "Because the full case description was also published, victims were often identifiable through those details. Unfortunately, the overwhelming majority of these cases involve domestic violence or offenses between relatives or acquaintances," Pakosta said. "Imagine a victim's name suddenly becoming public for anyone to see and browse.
Green rules at gymnastics festival spark confusion among performers
This weekend, the VII Estonian Gymnastics Festival "Maaelu võlu" (The Charm of Rural Life) takes place at Tallinn's Kalev Central Stadium. Joint rehearsals have been underway all week. However, the information sent to performers gave the impression that entering the stadium with plastic bags, disposable dishes or plastic bottles was strictly forbidden. According to performers, some were even reprimanded at the gate for having a muesli bar in plastic wrapping or yogurt in a Tetra Pak.
Võimlemispeo rohesuunised tekitasid esinejate seas segaduse
Sel nädalavahetusel toimub Tallinnas Kalevi keskstaadionil VII Eestimaa võimlemispidu "Maaelu võlu". Peo tarbeks on ühised proovid käinud terve nädala. Esinejatele saadetud infomaterjal jättis aga mulje, et kilekottide, ühekordsete nõude ja plastpudelitega sisenemine staadionile on rangelt keelatud. Esinejate väitel noomiti staadionile sisenedes ka neid, kellel oli kotis poest ostetud müslibatoon, mis oli plastümbrises või jogurt, mis oli tetrapakendis.
Labor Inspectorate softens stance on youth serving alcohol
As the summer high season fast approaches, many young people are searching for work opportunities, but current law barring them from serving alcohol below the age of 18 is, many say, hampering them from getting work in the hospitality sector. The bill, prepared by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, would need to pass a Riigikogu vote; the Riigikogu breaks up for its summer recess on June 18, returning only at the start of September.
Estonia, Latvia say Europe is moving too slowly towards combat readiness
Europe's defense strategy was discussed at this weekend's Lennart Meri Conference by ministers from Latvia and Estonia, and defense experts. Carlo Masala, professor of international politics at the Bundeswehr University Munich, highlighted problems with the 2029 timeframe. The academic said both political and military leaders assume the defense industry will be able to produce sufficient weapons by the deadline, but in reality, it will take much longer.
Expert: Cruise ship hantavirus outbreak poses no threat to Estonia
The hantavirus outbreak on a transatlantic cruise ship which has led to the deaths of three people poses no threat to Estonia, experts said. The World Health Organization (WHO) announced last Sunday three passengers aboard the vessel, destined for the Canary Islands after sailing from Argentina, had died after contracting the virus.
Kruiisilaeval tekkinud hantaviiruse puhang Eestile ohtu ei kujuta
Maailma Terviseorganisatsioon teatas möödunud pühapäeval, et Atlandi ookeanil seilanud kruiisilaeva reisijate seas on hantaviiruse nakkuse tagajärjel surnud kolm inimest. Kuigi hantaviirus levib tavaliselt närilistelt inimestele, siis nakatunud inimestel tuvastatud viirus osutus Andide tüveks, mis võib väga lähedase kontakti kaudu ka inimeselt inimesele levida. Ekspertide sõnul on nakkuse edasikandumine siiski väga haruldane. Ka viroloog Irja Lutsar toonitas, et paanikaks põhjust ei ole.
Fewer mosquitoes expected in Estonia this spring
The mosquito life cycle depends directly on the surrounding environmental conditions. For successful reproduction, the insects require favorable temperatures and sufficient standing water, explained Tiit Teder, associate professor of entomology at the University of Tartu. The entomologist said making precise forecasts is similar to predicting the weather, and long-term outlooks tend to be inaccurate. However, Teder said some springtime predictions can already be made.
Fewer mosquitos expected in Estonia this spring
The mosquito life cycle depends directly on the surrounding environmental conditions. For successful reproduction, the insects require favorable temperatures and sufficient standing water, explained Tiit Teder, associate professor of entomology at the University of Tartu. The entomologist said making precise forecasts is similar to predicting the weather, and long-term outlooks tend to be inaccurate. However, Teder said some springtime predictions can already be made.
Kevad peaks tulema keskmisest sääsevaesem
Sääskede elutsükkel sõltub otseselt ümbritsevatest keskkonnatingimustest. Edukaks paljunemiseks vajavad nad soodsat temperatuuri ja piisaval hulgal seisvat vett, selgitas Tartu Ülikooli entomoloogia kaasprofessori Tiit Teder. Täpsete prognooside tegemine on putukateadlase hinnangul siiski sarnane ilma ennustamisega, kus pikaajalised vaated kipuvad olema ebatäpsed. Samas on Tederi sõnul kevadisi ennustusi võimalik siiski juba teha.
Soov elukoht seadustada tekitas Hispaania migratsiooniametites pikad järjekorrad
Lõuna-Hispaanias Almerías ootasid migrandid pikas järjekorras migratsiooniameti ees. Samal ajal püüdsid mitmed teised sisserändajad linnavalitsusest saada vajalikke dokumente kätte. Kohalik elanik Seydina, kes aitas Senegali migrantidel dokumente korda ajada, kurtis Reutersile, et segadust on palju. "Meie riigis on väga palju inimesi, kes on segaduses ega tea, milliseid dokumente nad peavad kaasa võtma, sest nad ei ole kunagi koolis käinud. See ongi meie probleem," selgitas ta.
Finance ministry drawing up new changes for 2nd pillar pension fund
A pension reform that took effect a few years ago allowed people to withdraw their savings from the second pillar. That move came with a restriction: those who left would only be allowed to rejoin after 10 years. The state now wants to shorten that waiting period to five years, which is supported by banks. Swedbank Head of Investment Funds Age Petter said this would allow people to save more effectively.
Tallinn plans to bring new cultural activities to Christmas market
Unlike previous years, the 2026/2027 Christmas market will not focus only on selling traditional food and mulled wine. New activity kiosks will be placed on Raekoja plats where no commercial activities will take place. Tallinn Kesklinn District Government has already launched a tender to find an organizer. Kesklinn District Elder Nikita Groznov said the goal is to offer residents and tourists new activities.
Gluten-free diets strain wallets of Estonian celiac patients
Celiac disease is a chronic autoimmune condition triggered by gluten and with a strong genetic component. When someone with celiac disease eats gluten, a protein found in grains including wheat, barley and rye, the immune system attacks and damages the lining of the small intestine. Symptoms can range from fatigue, nausea and abdominal pain to more serious complications such as liver dysfunction, neurological problems or recurrent miscarriage, also known as recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL).
Lennundusmuuseumi asutaja soovib riigilt püsirahastust
Muuseumi rajaja Mati Meose sõnul takistab praegune olukord pikemate plaanide tegemist ja muuseumi arendamist. "Jätkusuutlikkus on olnud kogu aeg küsimärgi all selles mõttes, et lennundusmuuseum sai 25 aastat vanaks ja meil baasfinantseerimise variant puudub. Me oleme püüdnud projektipõhiselt investeeringuid saada," rääkis Meos, kellele teevad eelkõige muret energiakulud. Meos soovib riigilt baasfinantseerimist minimaalses mahus 240 000 eurot.
Estonian telecoms companies hike prices in unison
The telecoms market in Estonia is dominated by three providers: Elisa, Tele2, and Telia, and this "triopoly" has already been criticized for setting too-high prices to customers and for barring entry to the market to potential competitors. According to Rasmus Nurk, head of Tele2's private customer unit, overheads and input prices are constantly changing. Electricity prices, the cost of electronic components, and everything else that the sector needs, have all been rising, he said.
Riga's marketing budget several times that of Tallinn
Riga's tourism agency is putting €2 million more into marketing and advertising this year than it did in 2023. Its total budget now exceeds €6 million, with more than half earmarked for promotion. According to Tallinn's Strategy Center, the Estonian capital plans to allocate around €500,000 for tourism marketing this year, pending city council approval of the overall budget. That amount has remained unchanged for several years.
Insurance association wants tax-free cap on employee health benefits tripled
The Estonian Insurance Association (EKsL) has proposed raising the annual tax-free limit on employer spending to promote employees' health from €400 to €1,200 — tripling a cap that has remained unchanged since 2018 even amid sharp increases in healthcare costs. Association board chair Tuuli Pärenson said rising economic pressures prompted the proposal.. She cited Foresight Center data indicating that private healthcare spending in Estonia has tripled since 2010.
Kindlustusseltside liit soovib töötajate tervisekulude hüvitise kasvu
Eesti Kindlustusseltside Liidu juhatuse esimees Tuuli Pärenson selgitas, et ettepaneku ajendiks on majanduskeskkonna muutused. Arenguseire Keskuse andmetele tuginedes on eraisikute tervishoiukulud võrreldes 2010. aastaga kolmekordistunud. "Kõige olulisem asi, mis on muutunud, on see, et hinnad on tõusnud. Hinnad on tõusnud kaks korda ja sõltuvalt, mida vaadata, mõnes valdkonnas isegi rohkem," ütles Pärenson.
State plans more occupational therapy training as field still in limbo
Occupational therapy (OT) supports physical and mental health through purposeful activities that help people live independently, from children with developmental delays to patients with a wide range of conditions or recovering from serious trauma. The Ministry of Social Affairs is planning to expand OT training enrollment from 25 to 40 in 2029–30. Elina Müürsepp, a counselor at the ministry's Department of Health Services, linked the decision to changes in the country's rehabilitation system.
Riik suurendab lähiaastatel tegevusterapeutide õppekohti
Tegevusteraapia parandab inimese füüsilist ja vaimset tervist eesmärgipäraste tegevuste kaudu, et ta saaks igapäevaelus iseseisvalt hakkama. Sellist teraapiat võib vajada näiteks arengus maha jäänud laps, psüühikahäirega inimene, kuid ka patsient, kellel on olnud raske trauma, nagu insult või avarii. Sotsiaalministeeriumi plaanide kohaselt suurendatakse aastateks 2029 kuni 2030 tegevusterapeutide õppekohtade arvu praeguselt 25-lt 40-le.
Officials push to keep bus layover lot at Tallinn's main train station
Both the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture and the Tallinn Transport Department say the Rannamäe tee layover lot should stay put, even as the new Põhja-Tallinn master plan envisions turning it into a green space. A similar lot nearby on Suurtüki tänav already closed in October after the city's parking deal with the North Estonia Public Transport Center (PEÜTK) ended.
Ministry saddling landowners with fight against invasive species
Whereas the Nature Conservation Act previously stated that landowners were not allowed to cultivate certain invasive species or release them into the wild, the amended version now includes a requirement to actively control some invasive species on their land. According to Merike Linnamägi, adviser at the Ministry of Climate's biodiversity protection department, the previous language had been open to interpretation.
Tallinn schools still short on teachers after school year begins
Several schools in the Estonian capital have received extensions from the Tallinn Education Department to fill remaining vacancies. Kadi Pilv, head of the department's Staff and Document Management Unit, said that as of last week, 38 teachers were still needed across the city. She noted the current situation is roughly the same as last year, when Tallinn schools were typically in need of 30–40 new teachers throughout the year.
Group of coalition MPs hope to make Estonia a remote gambling 'paradise'
Opposition MPs remain skeptical about this, however. The substantive provisions of the national Gambling Act have not been amended for more than 15 years. According to one of the drafters of the new bill, Reform Party MP and chair of the Legal Affairs Committee Madis Timpson, one of the bill's goals is to make Estonia more attractive to remote, ie. online gambling companies operating for players outside the country.
2,765 bank accounts frozen due to missed car tax payments
According to Kerli Onno, head of the Tax and Customs Board's revenue department, it is understandable that the new motor vehicle tax has raised questions, but payment trends remain normal. So far, more than 97 percent of taxpayers have paid the tax. As of September 29, the largest unpaid motor vehicle tax debt that led to an account being frozen was €4,572, while the smallest was €7.75. A total of 2,765 persons have had their bank accounts frozen, including 654 legal entities and 2,111 individuals.
Medical professionals' working hours endangering both nurses and patients
Katre Zirel knows the field of nursing inside out. She is director of nursing at the North Estonia Medical Center(PERH) and also a member of its management board. In addition, she serves on the board of the Estonian Nursing Managers' Association. According to her, 24-hour shifts have long been common in Estonia's healthcare system. Scientific research, however, does not support the practice.
Demonstrations will also fall under new EU political advertising regulation
The EU's Transparency and Targeting of Political Advertising (TTPA) regulation, which aims to combat foreign misinformation and interference at election time, comes into force in Estonia on October 10, just over a week before the local elections. Since they can often influence the legislative process and ordinary people are engaging in "politics" when demonstrating, a larger proportion of demonstrations would also be classified as political advertising, under the new regulations.
Tallinn mayoral candidates have different visions for traffic solutions
The current mayor, Social Democrat Jevgeni Ossinovski, said one focus is ensuring that every Tallinn neighborhood has a main street modeled after Vana-Kalamaja. "The next place we'll see this is in the Nõmme center area, where the project is currently being refined, and another is Koidu tänav in Uus Maailm, where an architectural competition has already been held," Ossinovski explained.
Estonian businesses skeptical of EU plan to quickly switch to zero-emissions vehicles
The European Union's initial proposal would cover all types of corporate vehicles, from passenger cars to heavy trucks. "The overall aim is to cut carbon emissions in the road transport sector and speed up the shift to zero-emission vehicles in company fleets," said Eva Killar, head of the mobility development and investment department at the Ministry of Climate. Estonia has not yet confirmed its official position on the idea.
Infortar CEO: Estonian dairy sector has a place in international competition
The agricultural sector is not new territory for Infortar. Last year, the company acquired a majority stake in one of Estonia's largest dairy producers, located in Halinga, Pärnu County. According to Hanschmidt, the purchase was aimed both at developing agriculture and producing biogas. At the end of last year, Joakim Helenius, head of Trigon Capital, announced plans to purchase Estonia Farmid.
Economists expect Euribor's rate fall to continue
While the Euribor fell rapidly last year, it slowed at the end of the year. LHV macro analyst Triinu Tapver believes the trend will continue. "The expectation is that by the end of this year, the six-month Euribor will fall to 2 percent, and by mid-year, it will be somewhere around 2.2 percentage points. Perhaps the steeper decline has already happened, but the decline should still continue this year," she said. Swedbank economist Tõnu Mertsina agreed.
Opposition support defense spending rise, but question sources of funding
Center Party Chairman Mihhail Kõlvart told ERR while the party supports investing in defense, it should not be financed through the temporary defense tax. "If people were promised that the defense tax would be temporary and the current government is unable to cut public sector expenses, then the simple question is: where will the money come from?
19,000 more vehicles deleted from register than last year in Estonia
"December was an exceptionally active month," Jesse said. Compared to December 2023, the number of vehicle registrations in the last month of the year doubled, while ownership transfers tripled, reaching a total of 39,000. Jesse noted that in recent months, many vehicles have been temporarily removed from the register, a process the Transport Administration encouraged for vehicles not intended for immediate use.
Universities take different views on decision to slash doctoral support
The head of the higher education policy and lifelong learning department at the Ministry of Education and Research, Margus Haidak, explained that this cut would have the least impact on universities. "When planning the cuts to higher education for 2025 and subsequent years, discussions with university rectors led us to try to preserve as much growth in operational support as possible, opting instead to cut specific-purpose funding from earlier periods.
Economy ministry wants to allow longer road trains in Estonia
The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications believes that 25.5-meter-long road trains would benefit both the economy and the environment. Longer trucks would carry more cargo, reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. This perspective is also reflected in the proposed climate law. Currently, the maximum allowed length for road trains in Estonia is 18.75 meters.
Tallinn looking to ban leaf blowers with internal combustion engines
Elari Udam, deputy head of the Tallinn Environment and Utilities Board, said there are no plans to outlaw leaf blowers in the capital. There are no better alternatives to leaf blowers that do not come without a heavy price tag. However, there are plans to ban those with internal combustion engines. "The plan is to ban internal combustion engine leaf blowers on all city contractors.
Bolt, Citybee to increase number of rental cars in Tallinn
Bolt Drive Director Andrei Dementjev said the number of cars it makes available relies on several factors. "There are currently around 1,000 cars in Tallinn, but the size of the car fleet is very dynamic, it is constantly changing. It depends on the season, it depends on the life cycle of the cars and it also depends on our customers' preferences," said Dementjev.
New public buildings must be built with emergency shelters
If passed, new buildings over 1,200 square meters must include a non-public shelter if they are intended for residents, accommodation, catering, education, healthcare or commercial use. Additionally, public shelters must be established in buildings frequented by large crowds that are 10,000 square meters or bigger. The change is part of an amendment to the emergencies act. Minister of Interior Lauri Läänemets (SDE) has now sent the draft for approval.
Uuendatud kalmistuseadusesse võib jõuda ka puumatus
Ministeeriumi kohalike omavalitsuste osakonna õigusvaldkonna juht Martin Kulp sõnas ERR-ile, et praegu toimub probleemide kaardistamine. "Hetkel oleme ettevalmistavas faasis. See tähendab, et korraga toimub nii seaduse muutmise väljatöötamiskavatsuse koostamine kui ka ikka jätkuvalt praktiliste probleemide kaardistamine ja omavalitsustelt nende kohta uurimine.
City's transport department finds Tallinn needs Järve tram line
The city's plan for the stretch between Liivalaia and Suur-Karja streets would involve a one plus one [lane] public transport corridor solution, while the section from Liivalaia to Kiisa tänav would feature a two plus two public transport corridor." Construction is expected to begin in 2026. Indrek Gailan emphasized that the city's solution is optimal under current conditions. "We've seen a significant increase in suburban living, which creates daily commuting to and from work. This is inevitable.
City of Tallinn: Food festival tried to dodge reusable container rules
The Tallinn Food Fair, known in Estonian as "Toidumess," was held at the Unibet Arena September 25-26. The event's organizer, Tiit Sarv, rejects the Strategic Management Office's assessment, however, arguing that it has always been a closed event.' "The food fair has always been targeted solely at professionals, making it a non-public event," Sarv, who heads up the Profexpo, events organization firm, said.
Tallinna linn: toidumess üritas vältida korduskasutusnõude reeglit
Toidumessi korraldaja ja Profexpo juhataja Tiit Sarv strateegiakeskuse hinnanguga ei nõustu. Ta märkis, et toidumess on alati olnud kinnine üritus, mis ei ole mõeldud lõpptarbijale. "Toidumess on oma olemuselt kogu aeg olnud suunatud vaid erialainimestele ehk siis mitteavalikuna. See ärilt-ärile tüüpi mess, nagu toidumess meil on olnud, on spetsialistidele kontaktide vahetamiseks, võrgustumiseks, ärivõimaluste laiendamiseks," ütles Sarv.
„Ryanair“ oro uoste paliko 60 patikros eilėje užstrigusių keleivių: dar teko laukti, kol iškraus jų bagažą
„Ryanair“ skrydžio kapitonas nusprendė nelaukti keleivių, kurie laukė eilėje prie keleivių patikros. „Lėktuvo įgula užtikrntai ir atkakliai priėmė sprendimą, o keleiviai, žinoma, buvo nepatenkinti“, - leidiniui situaciją apibūdino Talino oro uosto komunikacijos ekspertė Eneli Rohtla. Dėl to visų į skrydį nespėjusių keleivių bagažą teko iškrauti iš lėktuvo, o tai, pasak E. Rohtlos, tokio dydžio lėktuvui užima daug laiko, nes visas bagažo žymes reikia po vieną patikrinti pagal sąrašą.
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