Lithuania’s GDP will grow by 2.5% in 2025, according to the Bank of Lithuania’s latest forecast, ELTA reports. In September 2025, the central bank projected that the country’s economy would grow by 2.7% in 2025. The bank now expects the GDP to rise by 3.2% in 2026, by 2.3% in 2027, and by 3.0% in…
Lithuania expects Belarus to honour its pledge to stop smuggler balloons from flying into Lithuanian airspace, Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys stated, BNS reports. Earlier, US President Donald Trump’s special envoy, John Coale, announced that Belarusian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka had promised to halt the balloon incursions. Budrys warned that failure to honour the pledge would affect…
After a marathon debate, the Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, approved in second reading amendments to legislation governing the appointment and dismissal of the head of the country’s public broadcaster, Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT), BNS reported. Unexpectedly, MPs approved a satirical provision that would involve an opposition MP’s cat in the process of removing…
Lithuania’s Defence Minister, Robertas Kaunas, has dismissed concerns over contractors chosen to build a military base for German troops in Rudninkai, ELTA reports. He noted that none of the bidders raised security concerns and there was thus no legal basis to exclude them. One of the companies, Rudina, which won a contract for EUR 348.35mn,…
Journalists and cultural workers in Lithuania have begun a three-day protest outside the parliament, the Seimas, against legislation that would facilitate dismissing the director of the country’s public broadcaster, Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT), BNS reports. Also, inflatable “air dancer” dolls were set up outside the office of President Gitanas Nauseda, urging him to…
As many as 15% of Lithuanians have given a monetary bribe or other form of compensation for medical services in recent years, according to a Baltijos Tyrimai poll for LRT. Meanwhile, around 75% of respondents said that they had not bribed medical staff. Another 9% said that they had not visited a medical facility at…
The ruling Social Democratic Party of Lithuania (LSDP) has commissioned a Norstat poll to gauge voter opinion on its coalition with far-right Dawn of Nemunas (PPNA), LRT reports. The survey showed that 56% of voters had a negative opinion of LSDP’s decision to invite PPNA into government. Also, 53% thought that the current coalition should…
UAE’s state-owned air carrier, flydubai, has opened regular flights from the Latvian and Lithuanian capitals, Riga and Vilnius, to Dubai, LETA and ELTA reported. The company will have three flights per week on both routes. Jeyhun Efendi, senior vice-president for commercial operations at flydubai, said that the airline planned to open flights to the Estonian…
The Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, has approved the state budget for 2026 with 80 votes for, 39 against, and 7 abstentions, BNS reports. Under the budget, annual revenues, including EU funds, will amount to EUR 21.07bn and expenditures to EUR 27.51bn. The government’s net borrowing limit has been increased to EUR 7.79bn, ELTA reports. The…