The budget and finance committee of the Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, has approved a proposal to link state budget funding for the public broadcaster, Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT), to GDP growth as of 2026, BNS reports. Under the plan, LRT would continue to receive 1% of government income tax revenue and 1.3% of…
Lithuania will buy mobile short-range air defence systems from Sweden’s Saab Dynamics for EUR 147mn, the Ministry of Defence announced, BNS reports. The ministry’s Defence Materiel Agency (GRA) has signed a contract on buying the RBS70 NG (MSHORAD) systems, with delivery scheduled for 2025-2027. Defence Minister Laurynas Kasciunas said that the advantage of the systems…
The Baltic States will present a capability development plan at the upcoming NATO summit in Washington, BNS reports. Estonian President Alar Karis emphasised the need for increased defence spending, suggesting a minimum target of 2.5-3% of GDP. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda pointed out that Lithuania’s defence spending has already reached 3% of GDP in 2024….
Nearly 1,000 Jews have submitted claims for compensation for property illegally expropriated in Lithuania during the 20th century, BNS reports. The Good Will Foundation (GVF), which handles the claims, is currently evaluating 951 applications. The evaluation process involves three stages: checking administrative eligibility, review by the restitution committee, and final decision by the foundation’s board….
Amid rising incomes and optimism about their financial situation, Lithuanians are spending more on food and non-essentials but are increasingly reluctant to dine out due to high restaurant prices driven by rising labour costs and the expiration of pandemic-era tax breaks, LRT reports. While supermarket food sales are boosting economic growth, restaurant turnover has fallen…
Lithuania has the biggest installed capacity of wind energy in the Baltic States, according to Toms Naburgs, managing director of the Latvian Wind Energy Association (LVEA), LSM reports. Lithuania has 1,400 MW of installed wind turbines, compared to 400 MW in Estonia and just 140 MW in Latvia. Moreover, Lithuania is building and planning even…
The Estonian government will tighten controls on the transit of goods subject to EU sanctions, Ukrainska Pravda reports. Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said that attempts to evade sanctions continued to occur on the border with Russia. She noted that the EU’s latest sanctions package exacerbated the threats. The government will therefore replace the present risk-based…
The leaders of the Baltic States condemned Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s visit to Russia for talks with President Vladimir Putin, GNA reports. Outgoing Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, who has been nominated as the EU’s new foreign policy chief, said that Orban was “exploiting the EU presidency position to sow confusion.” Lithuanian President Gitanas…
The Lithuanian Armed Forces (LGP) will send members of its Redeployable Communications and Information Systems Module to take part in a NATO training mission in Iraq, BNS reports. During the four-month mission, the specialists will provide communications support to ensure uninterrupted command and control in the area of operations. The operation’s aim is to train…