Estonia

During a 8 October 2026 government press conference, Prime Minister Kristen Michal robustly defended the recent motor fuel excise increases, stating they were “decided during the EKRE coalition government’s tenure.” The statement aims to shift political responsibility for the unpopular price surge. Michal emphasized that the current administration is bound by legislative commitments made in

The Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ECCI) submitted a formal proposal on 8 October 2026 urging the government to temporarily reduce the diesel excise duty to the EU minimum level for a period of six months. The request cites the disproportionate impact of recent fuel price spikes on logistics, agriculture, and construction sectors, which

Energy Minister Erkki Keldo stated on 8 October 2026 that Latvia’s recent decision to cut diesel excise duties to the EU minimum has translated into only about a 50% pass-through to retail pump prices. According to market monitoring data, Latvian retailers absorbed a significant portion of the tax reduction via margin expansion, limiting the consumer

In an interview on 8 October 2026, Energy Minister Erkki Keldo indicated that the government could discuss postponing the next scheduled fuel excise increases (slated for 1 January 2027) during the upcoming budget negotiations. Keldo stressed that any decision would depend on global oil price trends, inflation trajectory, and the overall fiscal picture in the

The Tax and Customs Board (MTA) published the 2027 land tax rates on 8 October 2026, revealing significant disparities across municipalities. Local governments have the authority to set annual land tax rates within statutory bands (0.1% to 2.5% of taxable value), and many have opted for sharp increases to compensate for stagnant state budget transfers

An analysis published on 8 October 2026 highlights Germany’s experience since reducing the VAT rate on restaurant and catering services from 19% to 7% in late 2023. The measure, initially introduced as a pandemic relief, was made permanent in 2024. Early data indicates the lower rate helped operators absorb rising labor and ingredient costs, maintain

On 8 October 2026, the Estonian Tax and Customs Board (Maksu‑ ja Tolliamet) announced a public auction for gold coins valued at nearly €400,000, seized in September at the Luhamaa border crossing on the Russian frontier. The coins were discovered concealed in a truck seat during a routine customs inspection, constituting a violation of EU

As of October 2026, Estonian waste management companies face a steep increase in transport costs driven by a 60% rise in diesel fuel expenses, according to the Environmental Services Association. The surge is largely attributed to higher excise duties on diesel, which have pushed fuel prices to multi-year highs. The Ministry of Finance has not

Effective from August 2026, the revised EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) introduces granular reporting obligations that require businesses to document packaging materials at the individual unit level — including bottles, tubes, and boxes. Estonian exporters to the EU single market must now submit hundreds of data lines per shipment, detailing packaging composition, weight,

Following the 1 January 2026 reduction of the online gambling tax rate from 20% to 15% of gross gaming revenue (GGR), the Estonian Tax and Customs Board (MTA) reports that the number of licensed operators has remained stagnant at 42, with no new market entrants recorded in the first nine months. Tax revenue from online