Eesti in brief

“The Nordic countries and the Baltic States, which are characterized by innovative thinking and experience in the development of e-governance, should take the leading role in implementing the goals of the European Union digital agenda,” said President Toomas Hendrik Ilves at the opening of the Nordic Digital Agendas Day in Tallinn on April 25, reports LETA. The head of state introduced Estonia’s e-governance opportunities, security and strengths to the participants of the conference, and noted that secure digital identity is the key issue for the development of well-working e-solutions. “We should strive to achieve a system of digital signatures that could be acceptable throughout the Nordic countries and Baltic States, as this would facilitate cooperation in the sphere of various e-services. Last year, Estonia and Finland entered into an agreement that will allow the citizens of both countries to enjoy similar digital services, among these the creation of a common e-prescription system,” said Ilves.

Estonian Justice Minister Andres Anvelt said while meeting with his Baltic colleagues in Vilnius on April 25 that the Baltic States should learn more from each other’s experiences: “for example about legal and democratic activities for curbing the propaganda machines badmouthing the European Union,” reports Postimees Online reports. “Events taking place in our region [now] are worrying. Our role in the justice cooperation sphere is to join forces,” he said. Euro introduction in Lithuania and its effects on crime were discussed. Anvelt said that the negative forecasts connected to an increase in crime and forgeries didn’t come true in Estonia. “The smallness of the market lowered the risks of an increase of money forgeries, as it doesn’t make Estonia attractive for criminal groups. The other important factor is the low share of cash in money turnover. As compared to other states, card payments are used much more in Estonia.”

The total cost of a pan-Baltic Russian language television channel would cost approximately 7.5 million euros annually, which means that each country would have to contribute 2.5 million euros per year, reports Estonian Public Broadcasting (EPB). Latvian State Television (LTV) says it is planning to establish a Russian-language TV channel that will broadcast news programs and Russia- and Ukraine-produced TV series, devoid of any kind of propaganda, in the Baltic countries. The idea was also presented to LTV colleagues and high-ranking officials in Lithuania and Estonia, and they approved of the idea in principle. The move is an attempt to counter the steady stream of Russian media propaganda produced by the Russian media which is watched by and ‘brainwashes’ the Baltic Russian populations.