BONJOUR L'ESTONIE

Why Italy's youth troubles are a cause for concern ?

While the senior national team shows signs of battling back from recent woes, the underachievement of youth level squads points to a worrying trend for the future of Calcio.

As Italy prepare to host Estonia in Modena on Friday with a commanding five-point lead at the top of their Euro 2012 qualifying group, one could be forgiven for thinking that the national game in the peninsula has quickly been turned around after last summer’s disastrous World Cup campaign. But Sunday’s 3-0 humbling by the Republic of Ireland at under-19 level was just the latest in a series of worrying results in the younger age groups that have suggested that there are reasons to be concerned about the future of the national team.

While it is not necessarily results that matter most at youth level, more the progression of top international players of the future, Italy has long had an impressive record in competitive tournaments at the younger levels. However, alongside a recent blockage of the supply line of top talent to the senior team has come a drop in representation at the major youth tournaments, with this summer set to be one of the quietest ever in Calcio.

Having somehow squandered a 2-0 first-leg lead to Belarus in October in their European Championship play-off, Italy’s under-21 side begin their participation in this year’s Toulon  tournament on Wednesday when they could instead have been preparing to fly to Denmark for the bi-annual continental finals. Under Pierluigi Casiraghi, their Uefa campaign never really got off the ground after a slow start, and players such as Angelo Ogbonna, Andrea Poli, Vito Mannone and Stefano Okaka missed out on the opportunity to sample big-match finals football at the highest youth level.

Estonia introduces itself to the world as an electric vehicle network developer

Enterprise Estonia runs an English language seminar "The Challenges of Electromobility in the Nordic Countries", to be held on 1 June at 3 P.M., at the Sokos Hotel Viru, in Tallinn. The aim of this seminar is to attract interest by foreign undertakings towards Estonia's developments in the field of electric vehicles.

Estonia has recently launched several projects in the field of electromobility, giving social workers in local governments 507 Mitsubishi electric vehicles for work-related errands, providing 500 pcivilians with support in purchasing an electric vehicle, and in parallel starting development of a large-scale fast-charging network for electric vehicles.

"These projects will allow Estonia to make a rapid leap in development, in order to become one of the most densely populated countries in the field of electric vehicles and charging stations," Maria Alajõe, Member of the Board of Enterprise Estonia, commented. "The named projects create good preconditions for developing and testing electric vehicle infrastructure in Estonia. The smart grid being developed, combined with our unique IT experience, will give rise to the development of new services in Estonia, thus creating the possibility for a developmental leap in this field," Alajõe explained.

Representatives of foreign undertakings, interested parties and foreign embassies are welcome to attend the seminar. Estonian specialists and undertakings related to this topic have also been invited to participate.

Estonian Air increases baggage allowance

National carrier Estonian Air has increased its baggage allowance making it possible for economy-class passengers to check in one 23-kilogram bag free of charge, as opposed to the previous 20 kilograms.

The maximum size allowed for carry-on luggage has also increased slightly, but the weight of the bag may still not exceed 8 kilograms.

Passengers traveling on flexible economy tickets can now check in two pieces of luggage with a total weight of 46 kilograms, and for business class passengers the new limit is 64 kilograms. Earlier the maximum total was 30 kilograms for both classes.

The new baggage rules apply to customers who purchase their tickets June 1 or later and are flying July 1 or later.

Ingrid Teesalu

Attacks reportedly force African student to quit Tartu

Attacks have forced a Ph.D. student in biophysics to leave Tartu and return to his native Cameroon, according to the Federation of Estonian Student Unions.

The motive in the attacks is unknown, but the case is sure to revive racism concerns about the city, which has had a simmering problem with xenophobic slurs and attacks. 

Only one of the attacks was reported to the police. But the student body said the last incident happened just last week and was the third to be experienced by the student in Estonia.  "We talked to the prosecutor's office, which claims that they know of only one attack," the head of the student organization, Maris Mälzer, told uudised.err.ee.

The victim has declined to talk to the press; however, the victim's roommate said the student was attacked for the first time on April 8 and most recently on May 28. The victim filed a police report after the first incident. After the second attack, the student underwent an eye examination, but no report was filed.

The student, who was not identified to the press except for the year of his birth, 1975, plans to return to Berlin, where he had been studying, and defend his doctoral thesis there.

The police launched separate criminal proceedings to investigate the case. 

There is some confusion about which of the incidents were reported. Prior to the intervention of the student organization following the most recent attack, the Southern Prefecture said they received a report on April 20 about an incident on April 16 in which a man struck the Cameroon native in the face. The attacker was accompanied by two other males, none fitting the description of a skinhead. The spokesman for the district prosecutor's office, Kristina Kostina, said the victim did not mention any previous attacks at that point.

Green-focused Europe to drive offshore wind growth on the Baltics

Almost 3,000 MW of offshore wind energy capacity were brought on stream in Europe, particularly in the North Sea, in the last decade, while the Baltic offshore wind power sites have just begun taking shape.

Baltic trio, Finland on their way to harnessing offshore winds

The potential of wind power along the coastal areas of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are similar to some of the sites in Germany and Denmark, but the resources have been untapped so far. The situation may change soon, as Estonian state-owned power company Eesti Energia has revealed plans to build its first offshore wind park in the Gulf of Riga with a potential capacity of 600 MW. The Gulf of Riga wind project would arise in stages, with the first 150 MW currently scheduled to be installed by 2015.

Another, 38-wind turbine park with combined capacity of 190 MW, is being planned by Neugrund on the Neugrund Reef off Estonia's northwestern coast. In addition, Tallinn-based Nelja Energia, or 4Energia, is working on the 700 MW Hiiumaa offshore wind park, which will comprise 200 wind turbines with a capacity of 3-5 MW each.

Feral children brought up like dogs taken away from parents in Estonia

FOUR starving “Mowgli children” have been taken into care after social workers said they were brought up like dogs by their alcoholic parents.

The girl and three boys ate from the same bowl as pets, barked at strangers and relieved themselves in the corner of their filthy flat in Estonia.

Officials say the “weak and undernourished” feral children, aged between one and six, did not know what toys were and could not use cutlery to eat.

Steve White

University of Tartu raises tuition after Euro changeover

Like other sectors in the wake of the euro changeover, some universities rounded their tuition down, others up.

The University of Tartu will raise its tuition fees, but the increase will remain within the 10 percent permitted by the Universities Act, Ülle Hendrikson, the university's organizer of studies, told uudised.err.ee.

No significant price change is expected at the Tallinn University of Technology, where the rates paid for credits have not increased yet have all been rounded to whole euro amounts, said Tiia Vihandi, head of academic affairs. There has, however, been a slight price increase in postgraduate programs and distance learning courses.

Tuition fees at Tallinn University will not increase,  the rounding took place in favor of the students, said spokeswoman Maiki Voore.

Ingrid Teesalu

Estonia hold celebratory Belgium

Estonia 0-0 Belgium - Belgium coach Marc Van Geersom said qualification was "a great success" after his side, already through to the finals, were held by Estonia.

With a place in the final tournament in Romania already assured, Belgium concluded their UEFA European Under-19 elite round qualifying campaign with a goalless draw against Estonia.

Victories against Portugal and Group 1 hosts Croatia had sealed Belgium's place in the 8 June finals draw regardless of the result today against a team confirmed in fourth place following two defeats. Belgium had most of the possession, but Estonia held firm to register a point.

Van Geersom, who last led Belgium to the U19 finals in 2006, said: "We are happy to qualify for the final tournament in Romania but today we didn't play well. We will celebrate today in Croatia because this is a great success for our football. In Romania we will go step by step and hope to achieve great results. Our goal in Romania will be to go as far as possible."

Estonia coach Frank Bernhardt added: "It was important to go back to Estonia with at least one point. We succeeded in that."

Vjekoslav Paun

Lebanon arrests four in connection to kidnapped Estonians

BEIRUT - Lebanese authorities arrested four men believed to have information on the kidnapped Estonians early Sunday morning, security sources told The Daily Star.

Abdel Rahman Mejzoub, his son Wissam, Mohammad Yassin and Nazir Bassel, were arrested just outside the town of Anjar near the Syrian border, the source said

At least 10 other suspects have been arrested since the investigation began.

The four men, currently being held for questioning, are believed to have information on the seven Estonian cyclists who were abducted by masked men at gunpoint on March 23, the source added.

The Estonian nationals were seized in Zahle in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley shortly after arriving from Syria on bicycle.

A previously unknown group, Haraket Al-Nahda Wal-Islah (Movement for Renewal and Reform), has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping but has yet to make any clear demands.

His Highness the Sovereign Prince of Monaco Albert II to visit Estonia

From 2-3 June His Highness the Sovereign Prince of Monaco Albert II will be in Estonia for an official visit. His Highness Prince Albert II will meet with President Toomas Hendrik Ilves and Prime Minister Andrus Ansip. He also has a meeting scheduled with director of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Toomas Luman. During his visit, Prince Albert will participate in the electric car rally and visit the Old Town Educational College and KUMU Art Museum.

The Prince of Monaco will be accompanied on his visit by Foreign Minister of Monaco Jose Badia, who will meet with Foreign Minister Urmas Paet.

Topics to be discussed during the visit are Estonia-Monaco bilateral relations and opportunities to intensify them, as well as environmental issues.

Attention journalists interested in covering the visit!

Journalists, photographers and camera operators interested in covering the visit should be accredited no later than Tuesday, 31 May at 17.00. Accreditation can be done electronically at the address: http://ankeet.vm.ee/eng/prince_of_monaco.

Press cards will be available as of 14.00 on Wednesday, 1 June from the desk at the guest entrance of the Foreign Ministry at Lauteri 2.

Please specify exactly which event(s) you would like to cover!

On a mystery tour with a difference - Tallinn

“I LOVE it when a plan comes together,” as Colonel Hannibal Smith from the A-Team was so fond of saying.

On the face of it, my trip was fairly simple – a 24-hour mystery tour with easyJet. Roll up at Stansted airport, open an envelope containing flight tickets... and head off. So far, so good.

Airport duly reached, envelope duly opened and mystery destination duly unveiled – Tallinn, capital of Estonia. Excellent. Not been there.

No mad scramble at boarding, an aisle seat secured, and the flight took off on time. We were due to land early evening so the plan was a 15-minute cab to my hotel, check in, then check out the nightlife. What could possibly go wrong?

Well, Mother Nature was not with the programme. Weather was the problem.

The light snow showers forecast for Tallinn were blizzards severe enough to shut the airport runway. The pilot wasn’t prepared to risk landing. Fine by me. But where DO we land?

The answer lay 200 miles south in Latvia. The runway at Riga airport was open so off we headed, landing at the Latvian capital 30 minutes later.

Then it got interesting. You’re in the wrong country. You need to be in the right country. Tonight. Is there a Plan B?

Fortunately, easyJet had one. But it was going to take time.

Tallinna XXX Vanalinna Päevad

World Day, 28th May

Freedom Square

12.00 The Opening of World Day

12.15 – 13.00 Bombillaz (Estonia)
13.00 – 13.15 Martial Arts
13.15 – 13.30 DJ Scratchy (UK)
13.30 – 14.30 ZumbaLand (Georgia)
14.30 – 15.15 DJ Scratchy (UK)
15.15 – 16.15 Svjata Vatra (Estonia-Ukraine)
16.15 – 16.30 Martial Arts
16.30 -17.00 DJ Scratchy (UK)
17.00 – 18.00 Baba Zula (Turkey)

The World Day is hosted by an acknowledged Estonian rap musician Reket (officially known as Tom-Olaf Urb).

Workshops

Savisaar should run as presidential candidate

Argo Ideon, an editor of Postimees, writes that the best scenario in the presidential election campaign would be for Centre Party chairman Edgar Savisaar to challenge Toomas Hendrik Ilves for the post.

This would strengthen the party’s image on the political landscape and create a possibility for an all-out debate with the incumbent president.

“The two are on dramatically different positions with regard to the situation in the Estonian society and future ways,” said Ideon, adding that Savisaar’s candidacy would clear the air.

“Although it is almost certain that Ilves gets re-elected in the parliament on August 29, there would be a real debate,” said Ideon.

Three parliamentary parties - Social Democrats, Reform Party and, last weekend, IRL - are supporting the re-election of Ilves, with only Centre Party likely to oppose.

Toomas Hõbemägi

Estonia has highest portion of working students in EU

A new report published by the Human Rights Center states that 66 percent of Estonian university students are holding down jobs, the highest percentage in Europe.

The organization's annual report for 2010 said that 51 percent of full-time students in the country work full time, and "spend the least amount of time on studies of the students in Europe."

Based on a survey carried out by Praxis and the Archimedes Primus program, the report also found problems with access to education among the nation's poor, based on information received from the Federation of Student Unions. The federation said that only 5 percent of students come from families of a low socio-economic background, while 19.5 percent of the population lives in relative poverty. The report's authors said that the system of student grants was deepening the environment of inequality in higher education, making it further dependent on the income level and place of residence of the parents. 

Steve Roman

Estonia covered with volcanic ash cloud

The Icelandic ash cloud from the Grimsvötn eruption now covers all of Estonia, said the minister of economic affairs Juhan Parts on May 26th at the meeting of a special committee on safety of air travel, writes Äripäev.

Because of low concentration of ash, the cloud is not causing any problems to air traffic, said the committee.

An ash cloud from the Icelandic volcano of Grimsvötn spread above Europe earlier this week. The volcanic ash arrived in Estonian airspace on Wednesday morning.

According to Eurocontrol, the European organization for the safety of air navigation, in all more than a thousand flights were cancelled in Europe during Tuesday and Wednesday.

The number is relatively small, given the fact that more than 30,000 planes take off in Europe each and every day.

Toomas Hõbemägi

Sweden wants Greek budget cuts of 15 pct of GDP

BERLIN - Swedish Finance Minister Anders Borg wants Greece to follow the example of Baltic countries like Estonia, where budget cuts equated to 15 percent of gross domestic product, he told German newspaper Die Welt. "Only after Greece achieves a very substantial surplus can we start to talk about a re-profiling or similar relief," Borg said in comments to be published on Saturday, insisting that the Greeks "swallow the medicine we prescribed" for them.

Unlike its neighbour Finland, Sweden is a European Union member state that has opted not to give up its own currency, and -- in that sense at least -- the manufacturing and export-strong country may have less of a vested interest in the euro's future than Germany would. On Wednesday, Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip told Reuters Insider Television that Greece should copy the fiscal austerity measures of Latvia, an IMF aid recipient.

Under current plans, Greece plans to reduce its budget deficit from 15.4 percent of gross domestic product in 2009 to 2.6 percent in 2014, along the way selling some EUR 50 billion worth of assets by then. Borg demanded the Greeks immediately commence with reforms to their social security system. "It simply can't be that Greeks continue to retire at such an early age. They must stay longer in the labour market, work and naturally pay taxes," he said. "Greece will need five, six, maybe even seven years to regain its fiscal credibility," the Swedish finance minister added, implying it could take much longer before Athens could resume issuing government bonds in capital markets.

Finnish motorcycle gang members suspected of drug crimes in Estonia

Finnish members of motorcycle gangs are believed to be involved in drug crime in Estonia. Police in Tallinn say that they have found evidence of drugs and linkages to organised crime in motorcycle gang clubhouses in the city.
Tallinn police commander Elmar Vaher would not directly comment on the nationality of the suspects. However, he says that the local police have worked closely with Finnish police on the matter.
Vaher was in Helsinki on Thursday taking part in a conference of police chiefs of European capital cities. One of the topics of the conference was a call for closer cooperation among European police organisations.

Vaher said that two or three motorcycle gangs are operating in Estonia, and that officials are monitoring their activities closely.
The Finnish Bandidos MC gang has allegedly extended its operations to Estonia, organising contacts with the Tallinn-based mercenaries MC.
Vaher is not saying how many motorcycle gang members are under investigation, or the number of cases. He says that there is evidence of their involvement in drug crime and other aspects of organised crime.

Cooperation between Finnish and Estonian police was described as positive.
“Our cooperation with the Finns works as well as that between the police in Tallinn and Pärnu, for instance”, he explains.
There are several liaisons that help in the passage of information between the Tallinn and Helsinki police on the movements of suspects, for instance.

“It is important for us to get information on the way that local criminal groups operate.”
“In this way we can interrogate more efficiently, and to evaluate when someone is trying to deceive us”, Vaher says.

Estonia lost the sugar fine dispute with EU

Estonia received a devastating setback in the sugar fine issue from the European Court of Justice which decided that the sugar Estonian households hoarded before Estonia joined the EU cannot be subtracted from all sugar that was bought, LETA/National Broadcasting reports.

The European Court of Justice which had already once ruled against Estonia in the sugar fine dispute, did not take into proceedings the complaint in which Estonia stressed the fact that a large part of the excess inventories Estonia had accumulated before joining the EU was not bought by companies but households.

Countries that joined the EU in 2004 had to remove excess inventories to pay a fine for them to avoid distorting the European Union internal market. Jam sugar of households would not have distorted the market, Estonia claimed.

“The European Court of Justice decided not to take Estonia’s complaint into proceedings. Thus the hope was lost to get more than 200 million back out of the 580 million kroons paid to the European Union,” said agriculture ministry deputy chancellor Andres Oopkaup.

“Estonia paid the whole sugar fine over four years after accession, according to the fine decision; the last of the money was transferred in December 2009. If we had won the dispute, we would have regained about 40% of that money from European taxpayers since we think that it was unjustly claimed money,” said Oopkaup.

The decree of the European Court of Justice stressed, among other things, that the market was distorted by sugar hoarded by households before EU accession since private consumers bought less sugar as the result from the EU market after joining the EU.

Juhan Tere

Hansabuss opens the first direct bus line from Tallinn Airport to city center

Hansabuss launches a new bus line No. 90K to provide passengers with easy access from Tallinn Airport to the capital's center starting from May 26, 2011, the Tallinn Airport reports.

The new route should make it easier for foreign travelers to navigate in the city of Tallinn, informs LETA.

The bus departs from the airport every full and half hour from 8 o'clock in the morning until 6 o'clock in the afternoon.

The new bus line is opened by Hansabuss in association with Tallinn Airport and Estonian Air.

The bus is specially designed carrying the emblem of an airplane. There is sufficient space for the luggage keeping in mind the comfort of travelling passengers.

Tickets can be purchased on the bus for two euros.

Juhan Tere

Woman who fled to Baltimore may have to leave

BALTIMORE - When a family fled communist Estonia 20 years ago, they sought freedom in Baltimore by seeking political asylum through proper immigration channels. Decades later, one member of the family faces a threat of deportation.

Piret Tuisk, 48, holds on to the company of good friends as she faces possible deportation.

"Baltimore is my home," Tuisk said. "I don't have any other homes anymore."

When she and her family arrived in Maryland, Estonia was then part of the Soviet Union. After arriving in 1991 with only $200, the Tuisks filed for political asylum in the U.S., writing on their application, "In Estonia, we live in fear." They said political demonstrations against the Soviets had the family investigated by the KGB.

"It wasn't a great place to live. I was looking for a better future," Tuisk said.

In Baltimore, the Tuisks' daughter went to public school and ultimately graduated from college at Stevenson University. Tuisk bought a home, paid taxes and went on to become a licensed massage therapist.

Every year, she has applied for and received a work permit from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, all the while waiting for word about her application for political asylum.

Much changed for the family as time passed. The marriage ended and Tuisk's husband remarried with an American citizen, leaving Tuisk to wonder about her immigration status.