Foreigners outside Lithuania will be able to apply for national visas only through an external service provider selected by the Lithuanian Migration Department (LMD) as of 1 July 2023, BNS reports. Previously, such visa applications were processed by Lithuanian diplomatic missions, consular offices, or visa centres abroad. The new rules require that all applications for…
The speakers of national parliaments of the Baltic States, Poland, and Ukraine will meet in Latvia’s capital, Riga, on 9-10 July 2023, LSM reports. The speakers will discuss political and practical assistance to Ukraine, including support for the country’s membership of the EU and NATO. The speakers plan to adopt a joint statement at the…
Following the introduction of stricter entry procedures for Russian citizens in the Baltic States in September 2022, over 4,000 Russians have been denied entry, Rustamas Liubajevas, commander of Lithuania’s State Border Guard Service (VSAT), announced, LRT reports. He said that Estonia had turned away 1,850, Lithuania 1,278, and Latvia 890 Russian citizens. Liubajevas revealed that…
Relations between Finland and Estonia are stronger than ever, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo stated, ERR reports. Speaking at a joint press conference with Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas in Tallinn on 5 July 2023, Orpo noted that the two countries had strong cultural ties, and that their values and understanding of reality were very…
Latvia’s now former president, Egils Levits, believes that he did important work during his presidency, LETA reports. Speaking in an interview with TV3, Levits noted that his work had not been easy, but that popularity was never his priority. He said that Latvia’s national security and nation state had been strengthened during his presidency. Levits…
Lithuania’s government has approved an updated state border protection plan adapted to new threats, Baltic News Network reports. The Interior Ministry said that the updated plan would ensure timely and operational reinforcement of forces at the border, without the need for additional inter-agency coordination, in the event of a high threat level. The plan establishes…
The situation on Lithuania’s borders with Belarus and Russia is quite calm ahead of the NATO summit in Vilnius, Rustamas Liubajevas, commander of Lithuania’s State Border Guard Service (VSAT), announced, The Baltic Times reports. He said that while there was no additional activity of Belarusian or Russian border guards at the moment, VSAT officers were…
Lithuania has reintroduced border control measures, which will remain in place until the end of the NATO summit in Vilnius, BNS reports. Border checks will be carried out from 8am on 7 July 2023 until 8am on 13 July 2023. Travellers crossing internal EU borders will have to present a valid travel document and third-country…
Estonia’s Defence Minister, Hanno Pevkur, voiced satisfaction at the details of NATO’s new defence plans for the Baltic region, ERR reports. He said that there were no outstanding points of contention regarding the plans ahead of the NATO summit in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius. Discussions continued over the wording of the introductory section of the…