Estonia roundup: Russia drills on Lake Peipus, salary transparency, Christmas market, Baltic Way memorial, plastic ban
Estonia implemented new salary transparency laws, Tallinn's Christmas market to be run by 5+ Capital again, a Baltic Way memorial unveiled in Paris, and individually wrapped cucumbers to be banned from 2030. Russia conducted shooting exercises on Lake Peipus without notifying Estonia.
Russia conducted shooting exercises on Lake Peipus last week without prior notification to Estonia. According to the Police and Border Guard Board, although the Russian side did not inform Estonia in advance, the authority was nevertheless aware of the activities. Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur did not disclose how close to the Estonian border the Russian servicemen were, but speculated that the exercise might have been intended for training to hit sea drones. The drills took place on Russian territory, and Russia has previously conducted similar exercises near the land border temporary control line. The Estonian-Russian border runs through the middle of Lake Peipus.
As of Monday, amendments regarding salary transparency came into effect in Estonia. The offered salary must now be known before a job interview, employers are prohibited from asking about previous salary or forbidding employees from discussing their pay. The aim is to prevent situations where a worker's previous salary unjustifiably influences future pay and conditions, and to reduce the gender pay gap. The changes partially transpose the EU Pay Transparency Directive.
The tender for organizing Tallinn's Christmas market was again won by 5+ Capital, which has been operating the market for over ten years. It was the only bidder, as this year's one-year operating right did not attract more interest. According to the contract conditions, the market will feature activity houses next to sales stalls and will be open longer than in previous years: from November 20 to January 6 daily from at least 12:00 to 20:00, but not later than 23:00.
A memorial plaque for the Baltic Way was unveiled in central Paris on Monday. The ceremony was attended by Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire, Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal, and Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs. The monument, located on a small island on the Seine, honors the mass demonstration on August 23, 1989, when about two million people formed a human chain over 670 kilometers through Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to protest the ongoing Soviet occupation. Michal and Grégoire drew parallels to the current situation in Ukraine, emphasizing the importance of freedom and independence. The event also included France's European Affairs Minister Benjamin Haddad and Lithuanian MP Rasa Budbergytė.
From January 1, 2030, individually shrink-wrapped cucumbers and two-pack peppers will no longer be available in Estonian and other EU stores. Additional single-use plastic packaging restrictions will also take effect. Producers and sellers will be prohibited from pre-packaging fresh fruits and vegetables in quantities under 1.5 kilograms. Nele Peil, head of the Estonian Traders Association, warned that if tomatoes and cucumbers cannot be pre-packaged, products may become more expensive or spoilage may increase. The change aims to reduce unnecessary packaging; smaller quantities can be bought loose in the future.
