ISU European Figure Skating Championships 2010

177 skaters couples from 38 ISU members have been entered for the Championships. The ISU European Figure Skating Championships 2010 will open in Tallinn, Estonia, on January 19. Estonia is hosting an ISU Championship for the first time in history. 177 skaters couples from 38 ISU members have been entered for the Championships. All skaters couples will compete in the Short Program Compulsory Dance and Original Dance, and the top 20 Men and Ladies and the top 16 Pairs Ice Dance couples will proceed to the Free Skating. Overview over the top contenders Reigning European Champion Brian Joubert (FRA) will face stiff competition from Olympic Champion Evgeni Plushenko (RUS) and two-time World Champion Stéphane Lambiel (SUI) who both returned to competition this season. Joubert posted a seasons best of 232.70 points at the NHK Trophy, while Plushenko scored 240.65

Wanted By Nazi-Hunters Dies in Costa Rica

An Estonian alleged by Nazi-hunters to have murdered Jews during World War II has died in his adopted homeland Costa Rica aged 89, according to officials in the Baltic state. Harry Mannil died Monday in the Costa Rican capital San José, Edgar Savisaar, mayor of Estonia s capital Tallinn and a close friend, said in a statement. Savisaar paid tribute to Mannil, the godfather of his daughter, as an outstanding expatriate Estonian businessman and did not mention the accusations against him, dropped by Estonian prosecutors in 2005. Mannil nonetheless remained on a wanted list drawn up by the Simon Wiesenthal Center, a Los Angeles-based Jewish organization that tracks Nazi war criminals. Mannil, then aged 21, was recorded as having served from September 1941 to June 1942 with the German security forces during the Nazi occupation of Estonia.

Estonian Consumer Price Decline Eased a 2nd Month in December

The decline in Estonia s consumer prices slowed in December for a second consecutive month as fuel prices increased. Consumer prices slid 1.7 percent from a year earlier, following a 2.1 percent decline in November, the Tallinn-based statistics office said on its Web site today. In the month, prices rose 0.1 percent, the first increase in four months. The 23 billion economy has bottomed out after export demand rose and demand stabilized, the Finance Ministry and central bank have said. The smallest of the three Baltic states is set to become the euro region s next member and targets adopting the single currency by 2011. Estonia s government raised taxes on alcohol, fuel and electricity from Jan. 1 to boost budget revenue and to stay on track with its euro adoption goal.

Anti-crisis Christmas cheer in Estonia

Locked in one of Europe s deepest recessions, Estonians in dire need of some anti-crisis cheer are flocking to their capital s annual Christmas market, a magnet for locals and tourists alike. Spread across the centre of Tallinn s picturesque Old Town, the market showcases the hugely popular handicraft traditions of this small Baltic nation of 1.3 million people. Despite the recession there are plenty of customers. But you can see times are hard because of the increase in the number of thieves, who act quickly, like rabbits, Mahe Jarmut, a grandmother from the island of Saaremaa, wearing traditional costume and a sheepskin jerkin to fight off the winter chill, told AFP. The Estonian economy is forecast to contract a whopping 14 percent this year after a spectacular boom turned to bust.

Estonia euro adoption

Estonia s hopes of becoming the next European Union member state to adopt the euro as its national currency received a slight boost Monday with comments from EU Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Joaquin Almunia suggesting the Baltic state could receive an invitation to the eurozone as early as June 2010. Estonia could secure approval in June 2010 to adopt the euro currency in 2011 if everything goes well, Almunia told Austrian weekly Profil. The news was welcomed in Estonia, where the government of Prime Minister Andrus Ansip has made euro adoption its exit strategy for a deep economic recession. Finance Minister Jurgen Ligi told the Baltic News Service that Almunia s comments were generally welcome but were simply an opinion rather than a strong statement, and would have no effect on Estonia s plans.

Estonia s President Ilves joins list for top EU job

Toomas Hendrik Ilves, the incumbent president of the small Baltic state of Estonia, became the latest name Thursday to enter the race for the job of European Council President. The Baltic News Service reported that Prime Minister Andrus Ansip told a news conference in Tallinn: I put forward... the name of Toomas Hendrik Ilves as a candidate fit for the position of both president and high representative for foreign policy. I do not think his chances are highly improbable. However, Ansip also spoke positively about other potential candidates including the UK s Tony Blair, Luxembourg s Jean-Claude Juncker and Belgium s Herman van Rompuy. Ilves name was first mentioned as a possible candidate for president last month by influential Polish policymaker Jacek Saryusz-Wolski, but at the time he refused to confirm if he was interested in the role.

Relaxing Time at the Swissôtel Tallinn

Felt hats, buckwheat pillows, wooden bowls and artefacts, wickerwork, beautiful hand-sewn quilts, ceramics and glassware, sea-grass animals as well as home-made candles are offered among others at the Christmas Market as well as typical culinary Estonian delights like pork, sauerkraut, blood sausages, hot soups, gingerbread, marzipan, honey, nuts and sweets. Christmas performances with choirs, dance groups, poets and musicians round of the abundant programme. Swissôtel Tallinn, only a 10 minute walk away from the Town Hall Square, offers a special Christmas market package which includes the following: A stay in a Swiss Advantage room overlooking the harbour and delicious breakfast at Café Swiss, a 10 discount voucher for the Kaubamaja department store, a voucher for a complimentary set of drinks when purchasing a meal at the legendary medieval Olde Hansa restaurant, complimentary gift wrapping service as well as a complimentary use of the hotel s Amrita Spa Wellness including a 20 discount on any Biodroga or Futuresse product purchased from the Amrita Boutique.

Estonian CPI drops by record 2.2 pct y y

Estonian consumer prices fell 2.2 percent year-on-year in October, the first time the index has fallen more than two percent over the 12-month period in the recession-hit Baltic state. The consumer price index fell 0.1 percent month-on-month in October, data showed on Friday. The falls were close to expectations: the median forecast in a Reuters survey was for a 2.1 percent fall year-on-year and a 0.06 percent month-on-month drop. Compared to the same month of the previous year, the consumer price index decreased for the first time by more than 2 percent, the statistics office said in a statement. In September, Estonia reported a year-on-year price fall of 1.6 percent. Compared to October of the previous year, the consumer price index was mainly influenced by the price decrease of food by 6.9

Estonia looks to euro in 2011

TALLINN Estonia has set its sights on adopting the euro in 2011 following an IMF report released earlier this week praising the country s fiscal management. A full-fledged crisis has been avoided due to existing buffers and a determined response by both the public and the private sector, an IMF press release said. As a result of present and past efforts, euro adoption in 2011 appears within reach, it said. Estonian politicians were quick to embrace the news, expressing confidence that they would be able to fulfill the Maastricht criteria - which govern countries aiming to join the eurozone - and adopt the currency within the next two years. The Estonian Central Bank has also confirmed that the country could be ready to adopt the euro in 2011. Estonia has previously missed its targets for euro adoption, the first of which passed in 2007, due to high inflation.

IMF sees Estonia deficit above 3 pct GDP next year

Estonia will need to do more to consolidate its budget next year to keep the deficit at levels required for euro adoption, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Monday. The government has said it hopes to adopt the single currency in 2011 but a deep recession is hurting its efforts to cap the public sector deficit at 3 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). For 2010 all the base line projections show that the deficit will be higher than 3 percent next year, said Christoph Rosenberg, who headed a mission for regular consultations with Estonia. He said those looking at Estonia s euro plans should look beyond 2010 and 2011 and it would be important to make important structural changes.