Latvia’s banking association, Finance Latvia Association (FNA), opposes a proposed windfall tax on local banks, LETA reports. The association argued that the tax was “disproportionate, short-sighted, and nontransparent.” FNA warned that the tax would have negative long-term consequences, hampering Latvia’s growth, competitiveness, and attractiveness for private investment. The tax would oblige the financial sector to…
Lithuania has joined the US-led international initiative on strengthening cyber security, BNS reports. The initiative aims to counter the proliferation and misuse of commercial spyware. Lithuania is the first of the three Baltic States to join the initiative, which was first announced at the second Summit for Democracy.
The Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, has approved in first reading a bill that would oblige foreign workers to serve customers in Lithuanian, BNS reports. Altogether 100 MPs voted in favour, 5 against, and 14 abstained. Under the amendments, the language requirement would only apply to employees who have direct contact with clients. Also, manufacturers, sellers,…
Lithuania’s Foreign Minister, Gabrielius Landsbergis, criticised President Gitanas Nauseda for delaying a decision to end investment protection treaties with Russia and Belarus, BNS reports. Landsbergis noted that the government had proposed revoking the treaties back in May 2024. He insisted that Nauseda would have had enough time to refer the issue to the parliament, the…
Baltic and US officials held high-level security consultations in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, on 12 September 2024, BNS reports. The meeting was attended by Jonatan Vseviov, secretary general of the Estonian Foreign Ministry, Andzejs Vilumsons, state secretary at the Latvian Foreign Ministry, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, and US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell….
Lithuania will not allow a Maltese-flagged ship carrying ammonium nitrate from Russia to dock at the port of Klaipeda for repairs, Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte announced, BNS reports. The vessel requested permission to enter the port to unload its cargo of 20,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate and carry out repairs by a company in Klaipeda….
Lithuanian and German officials have signed an agreement on the rights of German troops, civilian personnel, and their families in Lithuania, BNS reports. The agreement was signed by the Lithuanian and German defence ministers, Laurynas Kasciunas and Boris Pistorius, as well as deputy foreign ministers Jonas Survila and Tobias Lindner, in Berlin. The agreement provides…
A court of appeal in Sweden has sentenced former Swedbank CEO Birgitte Bonnesen to 15 months in prison over money laundering at the bank’s Estonian branch, BNS reports, citing AFP. The court found that Bonnesen had provided shareholders with false information about measures taken at the branch to prevent money laundering. The appellate court overturned…
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis criticised other EU member states for continuing to do business with China, BNS reported. Speaking after a meeting with US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell in Vilnius, Landsbergis noted that Lithuania was an example that it was “possible to survive without Russian gas and Chinese contracts.” He warned Lithuania’s…