Norwegian PM talks Ukraine with Vladimir Putin
“Our main message was that Russia must end the war,” the Norwegian PM told journalists shortly after he had spent one hour on the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Støre had consulted with allied leaders in the Nordic region, Europe and the USA, and the Kremlin was approached byContinue Reading
Finnish finance Minister: War in Ukraine increasing spending
The war in Ukraine is putting a half-a-billion euro dent in the budget. Finance Minister Annika Saarikko (Cen) on Saturday said the war in Ukraine is impacting Finland’s public finances. And mutual sanctions are hurting Finnish economy. “The fiscal framework agreed last spring will be respected in all areas otherContinue Reading
Norway boosts military spendings in the north
The security policy situation has changed, the Government says and adds another 3,5 billion kroner (€362 million) to the budget for strengthening defense and civil preparedness. Russia’s operation in Ukraine “represents a turning point for Norwegian and European security,” Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said at a press conference inContinue Reading
Lithuanian Central bank proposes anti-inflation measures for hardest-hit groups
The central Bank of Lithuania has proposed anti-inflationary measures aimed at helping people most affected by rising price. Such measures include a proposed further increase in non-taxable income, state compensations for those who heat their homes with gas or electricity, and potential public transport subsidies. The central bank is suggestingContinue Reading
Finnish PM: NATO decision must happen this spring
Prime Minister Sanna Marin (SDP) on Saturday said any potential Finnish bid to join Nato would have to be made before summer. Sanna Marin on Saturday told Social Democratic Party delegates gathered in Helsinki that it was time for Finland to seriously reconsider its stance on military allegiance. That’s aContinue Reading
Halonen compares Baltics joining NATO to belonging to Soviet Union
In a recent interview with Finnish Broadcasting Company (Yle), former Finnish President Tarja Halonen compared the Baltic countries’ accession to NATO in 2004 to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania belonging to the Soviet Union. “They were used to being part of a collective security system during the Soviet era,” Halonen toldContinue Reading
Survey: Ukraine war affecting businesses in Finland
Russia’s operation in Ukraine and the resulting sanctions on Russia are impacting businesses in Finland, according to a survey by the Finland Chamber of Commerce. The majority of the companies polled—62 percent—said that the ongoing crisis has hampered their operations. However, only a fifth of respondents expect a decline inContinue Reading
China’s Geely starts test runs of e-methanol vehicles in Denmark
Chinese company Geely began test runs of green e-methanol vehicles in the Danish port of Aalborg on Monday. The two sedans and heavy truck run on e-methanol produced by Power to X (PtX) solution, a sustainable, carbon neutral, renewable fuel. Denmark wants to promote this type of fuel as itContinue Reading
Swedish company to build electric vehicle battery plant in Latvia
Swedish tech company Anodox Energy Systems has announced plans to produce electric vehicle batteries in Latvia, with the first factory in the Port of Rīga expected to be operational by December 2022. The news was announced by the Economics Ministry March 25, with a promise that a second factory for Lithium Ion Phosphate (LFP)Continue Reading
Niinistö: Nato membership would be the “most sufficient” security for Finland
In the latest of a series of interviews on possible Nato membership, the president seemed to suggest that the benefits would outweigh the downsides. President Sauli Niinistö says it is clear that possible Finnish membership in Nato would permanently increase tensions with Russia along the two countries’ border. Interviewed onContinue Reading