BONJOUR L'ESTONIE

EU launches legal actions

BRUSSELLS - The European Commission started a wave of legal action against European Union countries on Thursday.

Below are details on some of the steps taken:

HOW IT WORKS

The Commission, executive arm of the 27-country European Union, starts an infringement procedure by sending a "letter of formal notice" to an EU state.

If the Commission is unhappy with the reply, it can send a "reasoned opinion", or a final warning, setting out why it thinks EU law has been broken.

Unless the country complies by a deadline, typically two months, the Commission can take the case to the European Court of Justice (ECJ), the EU's top court. This can take two years.

For more details about the current legal actions, follow this link: europa.eu/index_en.htm.

TAX

EU vague on exit strategy as unemployment surges

The number of jobless people in the EU hit 22 million in September 2009, five million more than a year earlier, leading European leaders to be careful about agreeing a definitive date to end national measures to stimulate the economy.

While EU heads of state and government were meeting in Brussels for the European summit, Eurostat today (30 October) issued  alarming unemployment figures.

According to the EU statistical office, unemployment in the euro zone reached the record rate of 9.7% in September, "the highest rate since January 1999". In absolute terms, this means that over 15 million people in the sixteen countries of the euro area are without a job.

The figure for unemployed workers reaches 22.1 million in the whole European Union, almost 300,000 more in comparison to August, and up from 17 million in September 2008.

In Spain, the most hit country in the euro zone, the jobless rate reached 19.3%, followed by Ireland (13.01%) and France (10%). In the wider EU, the situation worsened worryingly in the Baltic countries: Latvia recorded a 19.7% unemployment rate, Lithuania 13.8% and Estonia 13.3%. Moreover, figures for Lithuania and Estonia relate to June, when the economic situation was arguably better.

Estonia to repay 50 mln euro Swedbank loan early

TALLINN - Estonia is to repay a 50 million euro ($73.69 million) loan to Swedish Swedbank this year, ahead of the due date of June 2011, so it can save on interest payments, the finance ministry said on Thursday.

The loan was originally aimed at supporting state budget liquidity.

'Cash flow and liquidity are adequate for the coming months to cope with the disbursement of government expenditure, ' Finance Minister Jurgen Ligi said in a statement.

'This decision reflects the strength of fiscal policy in Estonia. We think we can pay back the loan before the deadline at a time when the majority of countries would rather borrow.'

Estonia expects its GDP to fall by 14.5 percent this year and has already made savings of 19 billion kroons to the public sector budget in a bid to keep its finances on an even keel.

The ministry said that repaying the loan early would save the state 45 million kroons ($4.24 million) in interest costs.

The loan's interest rate was priced at six-month Euribor with a 2.75-percent margin and was originally due to be repaid by June 2011.

Obama and Estonia

Women earn 40% less than men

According to the annual report on sexual equality made by the International Economic Forum, the salary of Estonian women makes up only 60% of the salary received by Estonian citizens of other gender, who carry out the same duties. This puts Estonia on the 98th place from the total of 134 countries.

Estonia was ranked 37 in the sexual equality general rating. Last year it was given the same place. In the year before that (2007) Estonia occupied position №30, and in the year 2006 it was positioned on the place №28.

The sexual equality was evaluated judging by 14 different indicators. The countries, which were positioned on the first four places are Island, Finland, Norway and Sweden.

The head of the Social Affairs Ministry's Gender Equality department, Kadi Viik said, thet according to the data of EuroStat the gap between the average salary of a male and an average salary of a female in Estonia is the biggest in the European Union.

Twelve members elected to World Heritage Committee

Twelve new members were elected to the World Heritage Committee during the 17th General Assembly of States Parties to the World Heritage Convention, held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France from 23 to 28 October. The new members of the Committee are Cambodia, Estonia, Ethiopia, France, Iraq, Mali, Mexico, Russian Federation, South Africa, Switzerland, Thailand and United Arab Emirates. Each country will serve a mandate of four years.

The 21-member World Heritage Committee meets once a year to discuss the state of conservation of sites inscribed on the World Heritage List, and to add new sites to the List. The next session of the Committee will be held from 25 July to 3 August 2010 in Brasilia, Brazil. 

The General Assembly will also address the future of the World Heritage Convention, and discuss the theme "2012 and Beyond", the road map toward the 40th anniversary of the Convention and a long-term vision.

Baltic candidates emerge for EU presidency

Riga - One former and one current president from two Baltic states emerged Wednesday as potential candidates for the new position of European Union president. Latvian Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis gave tacit support to the candidacy of former President Vaira Vike-Freiberga. Meanwhile, Toomas Hendrik Ilves, the 55-year-old incumbent president of Estonia, was also mentioned as a possible candidate Wednesday.

"The prime minister believes that Vike-Freiberga has experience in international diplomacy, she is held in high esteem in the EU and is well-suited for the post of the president," said Liga Krapane, Dombrovskis' spokeswoman.

Daina Lasmane, a spokeswoman for Vike-Freiberga, told the Baltic News Service that the ex-president would be willing to run for the post if Latvia nominated her.

Vike-Freiberga served two terms as Latvian president before retiring from day-to-day politics with sky-high approval ratings domestically and a reputation as a strongly pro-EU intellectual among the diplomatic community.

Rock makes its debut at Tallinn’s Nokia Concert Hall

By Ella Karapetyan

TALLINN - Music has been a part of people’s lives since the time civilization began; it’s a part of most every culture. Music helps people to feel connected to each other and provokes different emotions. Music is around us all, and keeps on growing, growing to new ideas and feelings that captures its listeners.

Music is not only a combination of pleasant sounds, but an art which reflects life. It reflects people’s ideas and emotions. In this world of ours, filled with conflicts, tragedies, joys and hopes, music strives to speak to people about what is most important, urgent and poignant.
To many people in many cultures music is an important part of their way of life. Greek and ancient Indian philosophers defined music as tones ordered horizontally as melodies, and vertically as harmonies.

However, 20th-century composer John Cage thought that any sound can be music, saying, for example, “There is no noise, only sound.” According to musicologist Jean-Jacques Nattiez, the border between music and noise is always culturally defined - which implies that, even within a single society, this border does not always pass through the same place; in short, there is rarely a consensus... By all accounts there is no ‘single’ and ‘intercultural’ universal concept defining what music might be, except that it is ‘sound through time.’

Savisaar to Ansip : bye-bye, Andrus!

The results of the recent local election show clearly that prime minister's economic policy has failed, writes Centre Party chairman Edgar Savisaar.

In his column published in today's Äripäev, Savisaar says that Ansip's macroeconomic experience has pushed the Estonian state into a coma and the voters have now expressed  their opinion.

"Also IRL's chairman Mart Laar has nothing to be happy about since his liberal philosophy of abolishing income tax by turning Estonia into a tax haven has stopped working and has actually never worked," writes Savisaar.

It is clear that liberal economic policies of both Ansip and Laar have failed for good. The only honourable thing for them to do now would be to resign as a government and let smarter economic policy makers to take over and save Estonia. It is not too late to save the economy.

Speaking of Ansip's track record as PM, he single-handedly terminating economic relations with Russia and is breaking up the unity of the Baltic economic area by being patronizing to Latvia. The PM does not understand that the way forward is through cooperation and not through criticism. Estonia can soon find itself in isolation from other Baltic states. The blockade created by Ansip is costing the Estonian state tens of billions of kroons a year.

Jobs are being lost because there are 80,000 people who are official unemployed, but almost 150,000 people who are without job in real terms.

Employers : Estonia needs health-care cuts for euro-entry

Government officials and the International Monetary Fund say keeping the budget deficit, which includes the public health insurance fund’s balance, below the European Union’s 3 percent of gross domestic product ceiling is the main challenge for euro entry. Medical unions oppose any cuts, saying it worsens health-care availability and forces doctors to emigrate.

“Those demanding additional health-care financing don’t realize that this will threaten fulfilling the euro-entry criteria,” Tarmo Kriis, chairman of the Estonian Employers’ Confederation, said in a statement today.

The third-worst recession in the European Union, has cut its 2009 budget by 9 percent of gross domestic product as it looks to become the next nation to swap its currency for the euro. The government hopes the move will bolster investor confidence and boost trade by eliminating currency risks for companies.

The board of the Estonian Health Insurance Fund, a public body which pays hospitals for services with tax receipts, yesterday decided to cut prices for medical services by 6 percent from Nov. 15, citing a projected decline in tax revenue next year.

Tallinn will get money from EU for its own virtual map

Juhan Tere

Tallinn got money from the European structural fund to create its own virtual model to the internet, BBN/LETA reported, referring to Pealinn.

"We asked the amount which was between six and seven million kroons and we got it. We weren't surprised that we got the money, but that we didn't have to give any extra explanations. Our wish was satisfied as it was. I guess we wrote a good project," Kristel Lelov-Brossard, the Head of Geodetic Service in the City Planning Department said.

It's possible to make virtual city tour and get information on the place or building, see from that virtual map where there are sport or relaxation facilities, or where a concert or shows take place.

The aim is to introduce Tallinn to potential tourists and entrepreneurs abroad.

The city wants to finish the 3D card by 2011 when its is the Culture Capital.

Expert suggests to increase the retirement age in Estonia

TALLINN - The pension system in Estonia in its current state does not have any perspectives, and it was clear from the middle of the 90-ties, nevertheless, no political force had the courage to increase the retirement age, says the the economic expert of the Development Fund Heido Vitsur.

The reason lies in the Birth rate decrease in the 1990-ties. The average age grows, and in the same time the amount of newcomers to the employment market is critical, clarified the expert. Everyone is aware of it, he question is -who will take the consequences of it.

According to the Vitsur's valuation, the structural reforms, on the lack of which the head of the IMF representatives Kristof Rosenberg was pointing, should have been made two years ago.

That is why the Estonian pension system, the sick-fund, education, science and the system of national administration are suffering terrible losses. The Estonian tax system is not common, and in the conditions of the traditional crisis is simply fales to support everyone with a proper financing, says Vitsur.

Estonia one step closer to Martial Law

Toomas Hendrik Ilves, the Estonian president, has signed a number of new amendments into law. The amendments called the “Bronze Night” package, involve tightening regulation of rallies and demonstrations.

The new laws ensure stricter penalties for “aggressive acts” against the state, treason, and “aggressive” activities by foreigners against the Republic of Estonia.

The new laws also establish penalties for “calling to support military action against Estonia”, or attempting to subvert the present regime, calling for a conspiracy against the Republic of Estonia, to influence the police or government officials, as well as the organization of mass unrest, and participation in them.

The package of amendments was developed after street protests by the Russian-speaking population of Estonia, when the Estonian government made an order to move the “Bronze Soldier” monument, dedicated to Soviet soldiers who liberated Estonia from the Nazi occupation, from it’s original site in central Tallinn to a less prominent location at a military cemetery.

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Estonia goes down HD route

Chris Dziadul

Estonia’s leading cable operator Starman has become the first in the country to offer a package of full HD channels in Dolby 5.1 stereo sound.

The channels are Nat Geo HD, Eurosport HD, History HD, Rush HD and Arte HD and will cost EEK99 (€6.32) a month to receive.

They will be joined by Eurosport2 HD in the New Year. Starman, which also operates the DTT platform ZUUM tv, claims its services are received in 560,000 homes.

Estonia unveils UK Communication & Information strategy

Christy Wyatt

The Estonian Convention Bureau is set to target UK buyers with a dedicated MICE campaign across 2010.

The main activity is set to be an international fam trip in June 2010 to showcase the destination to 60 event planners and feature workshops, tours and a ‘white nights' party.

The bureau will also run several smaller fam trips throughout the year, and has launched an ambassador programme in the country's main university city, Tartu.

The programme will recruit local academics and business people to act as partners to attract international conferences to the city.

The bureau hosted four familiarisation trips for international meeting planners in 2009, for event planners from Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Germany and the UK.

It held its first London networking event in April 2009.

Estonia also established its first UK tourist office, which will also have a remit to grow business travel to the country, in September.

Number of foreign students in Estonian universities increases every year

Juhan Tere

More than 500 new foreign students study in Estonian universities in 2009 and the number is increasing every year, EPL Online/LETA reports.

In Tallinn Technical University (TTU), the number of new foreign students grew this year by 33.8% as compared to last year, to 127. The university offers 12 different study plans in English and the number applications was highest for cyber defence and legal sciences.

In the University of Tallinn, 273 students from 47 states study this autumn semester, 120 of them started their studies this autumn, said foreign students coordinator Merje Song. During the whole of the previous academic year, 309 foreign students studied in the university and the number will be bigger this year, she said, adding that the exact figure isn’t known yet as students who will come to the university for the spring semester have not all sent their applications.

Tartu University accepted 136 foreign students versus 92 last year. The number of people accepted to master’s degree studies has increased by over two times, said the university’s international studies chief specialist Ülle Tensing. She said that the most popular subjects were software technology and semiotics. A total of nearly 650 foreign students altogether study in the university.

Carmen Kass + Michael Kors 2010

Ad Campaign: Michael Kors
Season: Resort 2010
Models: Carmen Kass |Women Model Management| and Noah Mills |Wilhelmina|
Photography by Mario Testino

Website: www.michaelkors.com
Michael Kors Resort 2010 collection following the jet set life of supermodels Carmen Kass and Noah Mills, takes the MK faces onto a charming shopping spree. What else are you to do when your cruiser is in port than get your hands on some new Michael Kors designs? For the first time the famed designer found inspiration in Asia, Kors promises everything is packable, just like every resort collection should be.
+ Michael Kors Fall Winter 2009.10 Campaign
+ more Carmen Kass on Design Scene

U.S. warship pays visit to Estonia

TALLINN  - A U.S. missile destroyer, which was a target of a terrorist attack in 2000, has arrived on a friendly visit to the port of Tallinn, the U.S. Embassy in Estonia said.

USS Cole, an Arleigh Burke-class Aegis-equipped guided missile destroyer, will stay in the Estonian capital until today, Tuesday. The program of the visit is focused on a variety of cultural and sports events.

After the visit, the warship is scheduled to return to her homeport of Norfolk, Virginia.

The destroyer, which was named after Marine Sergeant Darrell S. Cole, a machine-gunner killed in action on Iwo Jima on 19 February 1945, entered service with the U.S. Navy on June 8, 1996.

On 12 October 2000, the Cole was attacked by Al-Qaeda suicide attackers in the Yemeni port of Aden. Seventeen sailors were killed and 39 were injured, and the ship was damaged.

In 2005 Cole participated in BALTOPS 2005 naval drills with the Baltic states.

Nord Stream gas pipeline to be build on time

Construction of the Nord Stream gas pipeline will be completed on time, Russia’s Prime Minister Putin said, adding that the gas pipeline could begin operations by 2011.

The new gas project will transport the blue fuel from Russia to Europe while passing through several Baltic countries – Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.

The route required approvals from several European countries. Denmark recently gave the project the green light while Finland is expected to announce its decision on constructing the Nord Stream gas pipeline across the country's economic zone in the Baltic on November 5, Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen said."

The situation looks as if by November 5 the government will compile proposals to make a positive decision on Nord Stream. After that, matters will depend on the environmental study," Vanhanen said during a joint press conference following talks with Prime Minister Putin in St. Petersburg.

Vladimir Putin said the pipeline is already being laid in both Russia and Germany and the project is expected to be completed on time.