Estonia to chair the Nordic-Baltic (NB8) cooperation format as of 1 January 2026
As of tomorrow, 1 January 2026, Estonia will assume the coordinating role as chair of the Nordic-Baltic (NB8) cooperation format, with the aim of strengthening regional cooperation, increasing the international visibility of NB8, and deepening the region’s strategic integration.
According to Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna, NB8 has developed into the most important platform for political coordination in the region. “NB8 must be firmly established as a cross-regional centre of political cooperation through which we pursue our shared objectives,” Tsahkna stressed. During the 2026 coordinating period, Estonia intends to use the NB8 format as its primary international political coordination tool at the level of leaders, ministers, senior officials and diplomats.
Another key objective is to strengthen the global image of NB8 as a group of highly like-minded countries with a strong and unified identity. “Together, the NB8 countries are significantly larger, more visible and more influential than when we act individually. We want to be seen as a unified and strong region that, despite the relatively small size of its countries, is one of the most important economic and political partners in the Euro-Atlantic space,” said the Foreign Minister. In 2026, Estonia plans to raise awareness of the nature of NB8 and to highlight the region’s role in the global economy and international politics.
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Originally published on 31 Dec
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If you are 16-29 and live or are from the Baltic Sea Region, you are invited to run for a top leadership position in the Baltic Sea Region Youth Forum (BSRYF), a platform enabling young individuals to shape their future. Registration for the third election cycle is now open. Young individuals and aspiring young leaders can apply until 6 April 2025, with elections taking place online on 24 April 2025.
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Originally published on 12 Mar
The second Green4HEAT regional working group took place in Salaspils, where representatives of local governments, experts of heat supply companies and energy specialists discussed the development of energy communities in Latvia. The event took place within the framework of the Interreg Europe programme project Green4HEAT, which aims to accelerate the deployment of low-temperature heating solutions by promoting cooperation and knowledge sharing between regions.
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Originally published on 11 Mar
The Tehnopol Film and Multimedia Accelerator, which is part of the IDA Hub film campus being developed in Jõhvi, is looking for new and ambitious teams who want to drive innovation in film production and multimedia work. The news last week that the building contract for the Jõhvi film campus had been signed was very exciting for us and for our partners. The doubters who said that Ida-Virumaa could not be a base for new technology and a major platform for cinematic advances have been shown to be mistaken. Technology develops so fast that a technological approach can achieve a great deal without anyone needing to go anywhere near Hollywood.
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Originally published on 11 Mar
Today, a study was presented regarding the role of green hydrogen in the Norwegian economy and its potential development in Latvia. Currently, Norway produces 10% of Europe’s total green hydrogen, making it the second-largest player in the industry after Germany. Latvia has also begun early-stage hydrogen technology applications in various sectors, including water transport and aviation fuel, which could potentially establish a new economic industry.
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Originally published on 10 Mar
Sunly, in collaboration with Metsagrupp, is developing a 16 MW / 32 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) next to the 45 MW Raba solar park. The total project cost is €7 million, and it will be built without subsidies. Construction is set to begin this summer, with completion expected in early 2026.
The construction permit for the Raba battery park, located in Pärnumaa, was obtained in January, and work will commence in the coming months. The 16 MW battery can store 32 MWh of electricity over two hours, ensuring that solar energy can be used even when the sun is not shining.
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Originally published on 7 Mar
On 12 March 2025, maritime experts from CBSS Member States will convene online to discuss the priorities and initiatives of the Estonian CBSS Presidency on Green Shipping Corridors and Digital Twins of the Baltic Sea. The meeting is part of ongoing efforts to map current activities on these topics at both national and macro-regional levels in the Baltic Sea Region.
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Originally published on 6 Mar
Lithuania continues to bolster its presence in the international tourism scene, having recently received the prestigious ITB Health Tourism Award 2025. This award, presented by the world’s largest tourism exhibition, ITB Berlin, recognises countries for their achievements in developing health tourism infrastructure, service quality, and international visibility.
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Originally published on 7 Mar
NIB, Luminor Bank and NORD/LB have agreed to co-finance a 148 MWp solar farm in the Ventspils municipality. The project is developed by Stelo Orienta SIA, a subsidiary of European Energy, a Danish renewable energy company.
The overall financing amounts to EUR 68 million. NIB’s EUR 28 million loan is supported by the European Union under NIB’s InvestEU Framework Operation on Clean Energy Transition. This is NIB’s first InvestEU loan in Latvia.
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Originally published on 6 Mar
Akciju Sabiedriba ELKO Grupa (ELKO Group), a region’s leading distributor of IT and consumer electronics products, through its subsidiary Gandalf Distribution AB, has concluded a sales and purchase agreement for the purchase of 78.95 percent of the shares in Renewed AB, a fast-growing Sweden-based electronics recommerce player.
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Originally published on 6 Mar
INVL Baltic Sea Growth Fund, the leading private equity fund in the Baltics, together with the other shareholders, have completed the sale of InMedica Group, Lithuania’s largest private healthcare network, to Mehiläinen, Finnish largest social and healthcare provider with fast growing international presence
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Originally published on 6 Mar