Inflation would skyrocket in Estonia and gravilion salmon rose by almost a third overnight – even for middle-income people

The Estonian capital has gained worldwide fame with free public transport. Free rides have been available to city dwellers since 2013. Nevertheless, many Tallinners prefer to sit behind the wheel of a car.

I have talked about this with several acquaintances. There are usually a couple of reasons to favor your own car.

– I can’t go there in a dirty tram among the homeless and the donuts, one says.

– The schedules are silly and the connections do not work, says another.

– I say directly: my own car is so much more comfortable, the third admits.

FREE PUBLIC TRANSPORT for almost a decade has not helped what it was originally intended to do: to reduce the number of cars on the streets of Tallinn. According to Statistics Estonia, the number of citizens using public transport on business trips even decreased (you switch to another service) a couple of percent in 2014-2019.

In the very last few months, some of those who swear by the name of motoring have begun to think of alternatives. A bank account that runs out of space well before the next financial day is a strong motivator.

The emptiness of the bank account, in turn, is due to rapidly rising inflation, which hurts not only low- and middle-income earners.

Rising inflation is driven by rising energy and fuel prices. That, in turn, leans up the price of other products and services.

Personally, I was just shocked at the fish counter in the Selver store chain. Graavilohi had tilted 30 percent overnight. Now it costs 39.90 euros per kilo. The rise in the prices of other fresh fish, coffee, eggs, flour and edible oils has also been tremendous.

Many of the Estonians interviewed by the Estonian Broadcasting Corporation’s ERR say they are reducing or adjusting their food purchases.

Middle aged Merje says in the same news story that he had to give up buying meat products altogether.

THE IMPACT OF INFLATION softened somewhat by the wage rise that has been quite brisk in Estonia in recent years. It just tends to be unevenly distributed, both by sector and by region.

– Too much to die, too little to live in, the cash register of the Estonian small town trade when I dare to ask about his livelihood.

PS The price of food is now rising so fast that it can cause social unrest, especially in poor countries. Read more here.

Then, among other things, the summation of the French election – the rest of the letter has been compiled by an EU and economic journalist Anna Karismo. Also take a look at the European Picture Puzzle of the Week version of the email: Do you know which city it is?

President of France Emmanuel Macron (above) won, as expected, a new five-year term in Sunday’s election. When the result was announced, a sigh of relief could be heard from Brussels. Macron has been not only the most influential but also the most pro-European EU leader in recent years.

AFTER THE ELECTION will continue for a long time to come in the EU, with parliamentary elections in France in June. Next, it is expected who Macron will nominate as the new government’s prime minister. In order to alleviate the division of the population, a rare individual, in French, is needed “five-legged sheep” (go to another service)local politics observers (moving to another service) evaluate. The prime minister should have an ecological profile, please left-wing voters, have a fresh face but be qualified, appeal to dissatisfied people in the provinces, be politically independent but loyal …

ADDITIONAL SANCTIONS FOR RUSSIA are the subject of negotiations throughout the weekend in Brussels. The EU Commission is negotiating them closely with diplomats from the 27 member states. This is the sixth time penalty package (you switch to another service) Against Russia.

There are reportedly some sort of oil embargo and blacklisting of new banks. For example, excluding Russia’s Gazprom bank from payment systems would be logical if it is to ensure that European energy companies do not pay for their gas purchases in rubles.

Energy ministers have been convened on Monday to discuss how Putin’s energy and ruble trade should be treated.

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT plenary session (move to another service) will be held in Strasbourg next week. During Question Time, MEPs will, among other things, question the President of the European Council Charles Michel EU action on the war in Ukraine. In addition, they will be visited by the Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghin.

You can discuss the content of the letter from the link below. The debate is open until Saturday, April 30. until 11 p.m.