Estonia and U.S. Boosting Digital Transformation
On October 21, Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu and Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Bonnie Glick signed a joint declaration in Tallinn to increase bilateral cooperation in promoting the digital revolution in development cooperation partner countries.
According to the statement, Estonia and the U.S. plan to share experiences from the public and private sectors, as well as good practices in the field of digital revolution.
All Three Baltic States Predict Budget Deficit Next Year
The budgets of the three Baltic states operated with a small deficit this year and because of the economic crisis that ensued because of the corona pandemic, the budgets of all three countries have been planned with a largerthan-usual deficit.
The largest budget deficit in the Baltic States is planned for Estonia, the smallest in Latvia.
President Signs Pension Reform Bill Into Law Following Court Decision
The Supreme Court rejected the petition of President Kersti Kaljulaid to declare the reform of mandatory funded pension unconstitutional.
Joining or leaving the so-called second pillar of funded pension thereby becomes voluntary.
The changes allow people of working-age to withdraw money from the mandatory pension fund and pensioners have the right to terminate a pension contract concluded before 2021 and demand a lumpsum payment.
Baltic States – Canada Joint Statement
On 16 October, Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu participated in a meeting of the foreign ministers of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Canada in Vilnius, during which talks were held with the leader of the Belarusian opposition, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.
The Ministers signed a joint statement reaffirming the common values of the Baltic States and Canada and continued good co-operation.
