Estonia

2026 immigration quota for temporary residence in Estonia, set at 1.292 foreigners, was less than 2/3 filled as of September 1, interior ministry figures show; past quota was filled up in the first few weeks of the year, now still 489 spaces are open

Self-sufficiency in pork production is expected to fall from 72% to 39% in Estonia in 2026 due to the recent African Swine Fever outbreak

A national designated spatial plan for a defense industry park has been approved in a government session; it will cover a 204-hectare site in the Ermistu village, Pärnu city, and a 141-hectare site in Varinurme village, East Viru County

The chargé d'affaires of the Russian embassy was given a diplomatic note declaring him persona non grata: the first secretary of the Russian embassy's staff must thus leave Estonia; the Foreign Minister cited incompatibility with Estonia values

About 17.500 people in Estonia receive weekly food assistance and despite recent soaring prices, the number hasn't changed much although donated and rescued food generally reflect changes occurring in the economy says Sven Lillepalu, at Estonian Food Bank

A new 5G 'pocket' siren technology transmitting threat alerts where mobile networks are down, was tested by the Estonian Ministry of the Interior in Tallinn, Pärnu and Rakvere

Construction of anti-tank ditches on the southeastern border will begin this week; anti-tank measures on the Estonian-Russian border are part of the Baltic Defence Line initiative, designed to halt a potential enemy military land attack

Inter-island ferry services revise schedules to meet demand, that registered a +8% in two years; there has been an increase in the use of smaller ferry routes, but the busiest remain Hiiumaa and Saaremaa, where passengers have to plan days in advance

A cultural cooperation programme until the year 2029 has been signed with Ukraine at mInisterial level

Estonia’s first training center for unmanned aerial vehicles has been opened at the Koigi grass airfield and will support the training of the Defence League, the Defence Forces and allied units

189,5 million eggs were produced in Estonia in 2024, +6% compared to 2023 and the average annual egg production was 138 eggs per person, while consumption per person was 259 eggs, including imported eggs

This year's state pension index, approved by the Estonian government, has increased the average old-age pension from 774 euros to 817 euros and the national pension to 393 euros per month as of April 1