BONJOUR L'ESTONIE

Top 10 cultural must-sees in Tallinn

1. Balti Jaama Turg

This wonderful Russian market is a must-see. Every day, 50 or so stalls fill the streets opposite Balti Jaam, Tallinn's main railway station, selling anything from antiques to locally made jam. I come here to buy beautiful second-hand plates and dishes for photography in my cookbooks.
• Kopli 1, jaamaturg.ee
Anni Arro, chef and co-owner, Komeet

2. Saint Olav's Church

This 12th-century church, at the end of Pikk street, is the most beautiful in Tallinn. It's also the most unlucky: it has been hit by lightening at least eight times, and burned down three times. Once the tallest structure in the world, its 124m spire can been seen from all over the city. Climb the narrow stairs to the observation deck at the base of the spire for sweeping views.
• Lai 50, oleviste.ee; fee for tower £1.60
Julia Kuznetsova, concierge, St Petersbourg Hotel

3. Kiek in de Kök

The museum inside this great artillery tower (whose name means "peep into the kitchen" in low German because from the upper floors soldiers could peer into the houses of the lower town) is interesting, but don't miss a guided tour of its limestone bastion passages, which reopened in March with new video and sound effects. Built to conceal the movement of soldiers, the 500m of passages (half are still being dug out) were used as a bomb shelter during the 1944 Soviet bombings, and inhabited by a large community of homeless people in the 1990s.
• Komandandi tee 2, +372 644 6686, linnamuuseum.ee/kok; tour £4.70 adults, £2.60 children (booking essential)
Mikk Tamme, business consultant

Estonia seizes record cocaine haul

Tallinn - Estonian authorities said Friday that they had seized almost 48 kilogrammes (105 pounds) of pure cocaine hidden in a cargo of coffee flown from Venezuela, in a record bust for the Baltic state, AFP reports.

"The market price of the 47.81 kilos of cocaine could have been nearly 100 million kroons (6.4 million euros, 8.5 million dollars), and the quantity was enough for five million doses," state prosecutor Helga Aadamsoo told reporters.

Estonia's population is just 1.3 million.

Taking into account the large quantity of cocaine, we have reason to believe that it was not meant for the Estonian market alone," said Rene Kanniste, head of the investigative department of the country's tax and customs board.

Officials said that four people were suspected in the case, two Estonian citizens and two foreigners whose nationalities were not disclosed by who lived in the Netherlands. Three of the four have been detained.

The probe was being led by Estonian investigators, working with colleagues from Baltic neighbours Latvia and Lithuania, plus the Netherlands, Germany and Europol.

The last record cocaine seizure in Estonia, 45 kilos, was made in 2005.

Media law limits press freedom in Estonia

The parliament in Tallinn approved changes in media law which include a loosening of source protection and compensation during illness.

The daily Eesti Päevaleht is worried:

“Journalism does not need this new law because it was just nodded through and endangers the democratic values of Estonian society, including freedom of the press, a main foundation of democracy. So this new law affects not only the media but society as a whole, because the threat of punishment will put a damper on courageous citizens who might otherwise speak freely.

Every critical statement becomes punishable if it is determined ‘inappropriate’. And journalists aren’t the only ones who write every day about the offences committed by officials – the average retiree on the street will also be banned from calling the prime minister a robber for reducing his pension. This law benefits only those who have enough money for a good lawyer.”

 

Estonia join the movement for single patent

An attempt to bypass Italian and Spanish resistance to the introduction of a single European Union patent gathered strength yesterday, as Germany and Estonia joined a group of go-it-alone countries.

Current rules require companies to file for protection in each EU state, with translation and administrative charges pushing costs up to 20,000 euros ($26,700).

To cut those bills, the European Commission proposed a system covering the whole bloc, with procedures to be conducted in English, French or German.

Italy and Spain protested, arguing that French and German competitors would have an undue advantage, and suggested an English-only system, in recognition of the language’s established supremacy in business transactions.

Belgium, the sitting EU president, threw in the towel on its mediation efforts on November 10, stating that positions could “never” be reconciled.

Five countries – Britain, Netherlands, Slovenia, Sweden, Ireland – had already warned before talks broke down that they were willing to overcome the stalemate by setting up an EU patent system restricted to the countries that were willing to take part in it.

Estonian authorities uncover two businesses that leaked Euro coins

In an ongoing investigation, the Bank of Estonia has uncovered two local businesses that together leaked 60 Estonian euro coin sets ahead of the legal circulation date.

Costing 198 euros a piece, the missing coin sets have a total value of 11,880 euros.

The country's central bank distributed sets of euro coins – bearing the geographic shape of Estonia on one side – to a small number of businesses before Estonia undergoes a currency changeover to the euro in January. 

Authorities learned that on a November 14 auction in Riga, 10 coin sets were allegedly sold off to coin collectors. On November 24, the Bank of Estonia investigated four companies which received the euro packages. When prompted, two of these could not produce any of the coin sets that had been allocated to them.

Russian Duma member pledges to learn Estonian

Major General Tatyana Moskalkova, head of the Estonian-Russian parliamentary group in Russia's Duma, has said that she intends to learn the Estonian language.

The MP's statement came at the beginning of a three-day visit to Estonia, on which she was accompanied by members of Duma committees on local government, federal affairs and regional policy, Postimees wrote.

During their visit, the first by a Russian parliamentary delegation since 2006, the Duma members plan to discuss issues related to the border, the situation of pensioners, non-citizens and language policy.

"The question of the Russian language is one of the most significant in the entire post-Soviet space," said Moskalkova. "We are extremely interested in having the Russian language preserved in the younger generation in Estonia. I am setting myself the task of learning Estonian, since I am the coordinator of the Estonian-Russian parliamentary group."

Moskalkova's pledge is likely to be met with a mixture of appreciation and skepticism in Estonia, since the grammatically complex, Finno-Ugric language has proven difficult for most foreigners to master.

Commission urges Estonia to comply with EU legislation

The European Commission is taking Estonia to the European Court of Justice for its incomplete transposition of a law designed to prevent industrial pollution. On the recommendation of Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik, the Commission is referring Estonia to the Court and sending Ireland a reasoned opinion. Estonia has two months to respond.

The infringements concern the EU Directive on Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC), which aims to prevent and control industrial emissions to air, water, and soil.

Under European law, industrial and agricultural activities with a high pollution potential must be licensed. The Directive required Member States by 30 October 2007 to issue new permits or reconsider and – where necessary – update existing permits for all industrial installations that were in operation before 30 October 1999.

The Commission has had concerns about the transposition of the IPPC Directive in Estonia for several years, and a failure to amend domestic law is now leading to a Court appearance for Estonia.

Beyond Kass

There’s something about intimate, small gatherings that automatically make you feel at home.

Last Friday, Carmen Kass hosted a party at Beyond 7 on the West side of Manhattan to launch of beyond7boutique.com, while celebrating the inclusion of Reet Aus’ sustainable collection - and the vibe was perfectly cozy. Over cocktails and tunes from the Misshapes, Carman chatted with her fellow Estonian and childhood friend, Reet Aus, while greeting guests. Given the pair’s long standing relationship, and Reet’s passion for not only recycled goods but also Estonian based productivity, the collaboration of hosts was an ideal situation.

And yes, her brand new short, cropped (and slightly reddish) ‘do is even cooler in person than the pictures. Make those hair cut appointments now, people.

14th Tallinn International Film Festival "Black Nights" kicks off

Estonian capital to become European Capital of Culture and host of forthcoming European Film Awards

MOSCOW - The 14th edition of the Tallinn International Film Festival Black Nights is to kick off in the Estonian capital on Nov. 24, focused primarily on European cinema.

Although fare from different parts of the world is to be featured, the main focus is on European film.

"With 2011 seeing Tallinn become the European Capital of Culture and the European Film Awards [scheduled to be held in Tallinn] on Dec. 4th, we're particularly proud of the great European films in the program," Tiina Lokk, the festival's director, told The Hollywood Reporter.

"There are also some great retrospectives focusing on Europe, including a massive program of Finnish cinema and [that of] 1960s cinema from Czechoslovakia."

According to Lokk, the presence of films by established auteurs like Abbas Kiarostami and Jerzy Skolomowski alongside those made by new talent makes this year's selection diverse and interesting for different types of audiences.

Production of strong alcohol fell by a million litres in Estonia in 10 months

According to Estonian Alcohol Producers Association, 9 mln litres of strong alcohol was sold in the first ten months of the year 2010, which was by a million litres less than at the same time last year, LETA/National Broadcasting reports.

Strong alcohol producers also exported 3.7 mln litres of strong alcohol in ten months, which formed 29% of total production.

Estonian Alcohol Producers Association chairman Janek Kalvi said that illegal alcohol forms 19% of Estonian vodka market.

Estonian PM Ansip will get a personal ATM

Estonian prime minister Andrus Ansip will celebrate the arrival of the new year this time together with other important figures of the state in the center of Tallinn, by the national opera theatre Estonia, where a special ATM will be brought for him, LETA/Eesti Päevaleht reports.

“Traditionally the prime minister of a state that joins the European common currency withdraws the first euros,” said State Chancellery communications bureau head Liina Kersna.

The cooperation of the prime minister and the special ATM can be seen during a direct broadcast of national television ETV. After Ansip, other people attending the party can supplement their euro reserves.

Eesti in brief

The board of the governing Estonian party, the Reform Party, decided at its Nov. 10 session to rule out cooperation with the biggest opposition party, the Center Party, and implementation of a progressive income tax in the next governing period, reports LETA. Reform Party chairman, Prime Minister Andrus Ansip, said that the Reform Party does not see any possibilities of cooperating with the Center Party’s chairman, Edgar Savisaar, in the future.

“We completely rule out that option just like we are opposed to implementation of a progressively increasing income tax. The Savisaar-like management style in Tallinn sharply contradicts honest, transparent political culture that is based on a sound mind,” Ansip said. Savisaar is the mayor of Tallinn at present. Ansip said that his party opposes progressive income tax as it would punish people who want to work more, and it would paralyze the Estonian economy.

“It is important to preserve the current unified and simple tax system, continue making the Estonian business environment more favorable and in the long-term perspective, reduce the private individual income tax to 18 percent. We will certainly not give up the corporate income tax freedom that facilitates economic growth,” said Ansip.

Estonia tax system "business-friendlier"

A new survey has revealed that Estonia's tax system is becoming more attractive to international businesses.

The research conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers and the World Bank showed that the country has improved from 38th in the ratings to 30th because it has simplified its tax system, reports ERR.

Estonia's tax structure was praised for being simple and innovative as well as appealing to businesses although further plans to reduce tax burdens could improve its prospects.

According to the survey, the average tax burden for companies in the EU is 44.2 per cent and in Estonia it is 49.6 per cent – significantly lower that Italy's 68.6 per cent and 65.8 per cent in France.

The Baltic Business News recently reported that Nerijus Strumila, board member of the Euroalliance, believes one of the key attractions of Estonia is that business profits are not taxed by the government.

Dangerous potato blight found in Estonia

A new, more dangerous and aggressive form of potato blight has reached Estonia, according to a doctoral dissertation recently defended at the University of Life Sciences. 

Eve Runno-Paurson's dissertation examined the Estonian population of the disease-causing agent, a water mold, and found that rather than a less dangerous historical form spread by wind and rain, the organism was reproducing sexually. 

The blight, which caused the Irish potato famine 150 years ago and is still a costly, thorny problem for agronomists, has been striking fields a month earlier in recent years and showing fungicide resistance.  

It also underwent a sea change in its reproductive biology during this period, from a largely wind and rain-borne problem to having the capacity for sexual reproduction. 

Genetic fingerprinting showed that the Estonian population was unique and diverse, with most of the local genotypes not found elsewhere.

Estonian export growth at 41%, imports 35% higher on year

In September, Estonian exports were 41% higher and imports were up 35% in a  year at current prices. Exports and imports were mostly influenced by the notable increase of trade in machinery and equipment, according to Statistics Estonia.
 
In September 2010, exports of goods from Estonia amounted to 13.2 billion kroons (847 million euros) and imports to Estonia to 13.5 billion kroons (862 million euros). The trade deficit amounted to 0.3 billion kroons (15 million euros), which decreased more than twice compared to September 2009.

In September, the biggest share in Estonia’s exports was held by the commodities of machinery and equipment (a quarter of Estonia’s total exports), mineral products (13%) and metals and products thereof (10%). Exports of machinery and equipment increased twofold or by 1.6 billion kroons (103 million euros) compared to September of the previous year. Exports of metals and products thereof and wood and products thereof also increased significantly (72% and 41%, respectively).

In September the biggest share in Estonia’s imports was held by machinery and equipment (27% of Estonia’s total imports), mineral products (13%) and agricultural products and food preparations (11%). Compared to September 2009, arrivals of machinery and equipment increased nearly twofold or by 1.7 billion kroons (110 million euros). Imports of metals and products thereof also increased significantly.

Celebrations for the euro and European capital of culture to be held on theatre square

Stenbock House – In association with the City of Tallinn and the Tallinn 2011 foundation, the state is inviting everyone to join in the celebrations marking the arrival of the single currency and the title of European Capital of Culture on Theatre Square in front of the Estonia Concert Hall on 31 December.

The new year will bring with it two very important events for Estonia. The first is the changeover to the euro – a key moment in the history of the country, and also in that of the European Union. Accepting the invitation extended by Prime Minister Andrus Ansip, attending the celebrations will be his Latvian and Lithuanian counterparts Valdis Dombrovskis and Andrius Kubilius, European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs Olli Rehn and European Commissioner for Transport and former president of the Bank of Estonia (at the time of the introduction of the Estonian kroon) Siim Kallas. Also promising to greet Estonia on this momentous occasion is Finnish Minister for Migration and European Affairs Astrid Thors.

1 January 2011 also marks the date on which Tallinn assumes the title of European Capital of Culture. This year-long celebration will involve around 7000 cultural events, drawing the attention of Europe’s cultural public not just to the city itself, but to Estonia as a whole. The opening party is set to be attended by representatives of other Capitals of Culture, led by Aleksi Randell, mayor of Turku in Finland – sister Capital of Culture to Tallinn in 2011 – and Cay Sevón, director of the Turku 2011 foundation.

Estonia Post delivers Euro mail shot

Estonia Post is to deliver thousands of direct mail leaflets to Estonian citizens this week on behalf of the European Central Bank and Bank of Estonia. The leaflets focus on the introduction of the euro in January and explain basic security features of the banknotes.

Additionally, two the so-called exchange rate cards can be found in the leaflet, which depict, based on hologram-card-principle, on one side the security features and on the other the prices in kroons and euros. The cards are of bank card size making them convenient and ideal for everyday cash transactions.

In addition to the design and security features of euro currency, the information material contains the address of the President of the Bank of Estonia and the European Central Bank, drawing attention to some key practical guidelines for the euro. It also introduces once again the Estonian euro coins.

The information is to be delivered to 561,000 individual mailboxes.

In municipalities and districts of Tallinn, at least half of the population does not speak Estonian so a Russian-language leaflet has also been prepared although will not contain the rate cards.

In total, 172,252 Russian-language information leaflets will be distributed as part of the mail-out, concluding on Friday, 26th November. Earlier this month, Estonia Post distributed euro calculators throughout Estonia.

David Lynch

Most wanted man arrested in Blackburn fights extradition

EXTRADITION proceedings have been launched against one of Europe's most wanted men who was arrested in Blackburn.

Gunnar Simanis is accused of torturing and murdering a pensioner in Estonia.

He was detained in Blackburn on Thursday after a routine police stop for suspected driving offences in Barbara Castle Way.

The 39-year-old, who had been living in Accrington Road, Blackburn, has appeared at City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

Magistrates heard he broke into a farm, with two accomplices, and demanded money for vodka from Maria Saskov Minejeva, 80, in June 1999.

The court heard Miss Minejeva was tied up, tortured and beaten so severely she later died from her injuries.

Simanis’ lawyer, Fadi Daoud, said he would resist extradition to Estonia.

Mr Daoud admitted Simanis had walked out of his trial in Viru, northern Estonia, in May this year, two days into the hearing after his co-defendant blamed him for the killing.

Ferry traffic from Saaremaa to Gotland to be launched next summer

Opening a ship route Gotland–Ventspils–Saaremaa that has been on the agenda for the past couple of years will become reality next summer, NLETA/ational Broadcasting reports.

Kuressaare city council development adviser Ingrid Tilts told Saarte Hääl that the ship connection between three states will be launched in 2011 but the schedule of the route and the period when the trips take place has not yet been determined. “It is clear that the route will start with a small ship and not very frequent trips but the aim is to increase the service so that it would persist in the future,” said Tilts.

In order to do the necessary research, the Interreg IV A Central Baltic Sea programme has allocated for the Ventspils free port, Gotland commune and Kuressaare city cooperation project nearly 1.6 million euros in two years.

Juhan Tere

Estonia’s most responsible company is Coca-Cola HBC Eesti

Estonia’s most responsible company this year is Coca-Cola HBC Eesti, followed by last year’s winner Swedbank and Eesti Energia, LETA/Postimees Online reports.

Coca-Cola HBC Eesti has excelled with thoroughness in the responsible business sphere for years, non-profit organisation Responsible Business Forum that compiles the list said.

The forum said that this year, it wants to note especially the support and help to employees in connecting with redundancies which helped people to find new jobs more easily. Coca-Cola HBC Eesti has also contributed to future entrepreneurs and managers understanding how important responsible behaviour is for companies.

The list was compiled for the third time by Responsible Business Forum, economy and communications ministry, EBS and Äripev and it was also supported by the European Commission.

Juhan Tere