The number of temporary residence permits issued to foreigners in Lithuania declined for the first time in the first half of 2024, according to data from the Lithuanian Migration Department (LMD), BNS reports. At the same time, the number of permit renewals increased several times. LMD issued 78,121 temporary residence permits to foreigners in six…
Lithuanian Interior Minister Agne Bilotaite has requested financial support from the EU to strengthen the protection of the country’s border with Russia, BNS reports. In a letter to EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson, Bilotaite emphasised the need to modernise and update border surveillance systems, with costs estimated at nearly EUR 16mn and required…
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda will raise the issue of NATO’s response to recent Russian hybrid attacks at the alliance’s summit in Washington, his chief national security adviser, Kestutis Budrys, said, BNS reports. Speaking in an interview with Ziniu Radijas, Budrys insisted that NATO had to respond to attacks when there was clear attribution. He suggested…
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…
The Latvian language technology company, Tilde, has received funding from the European Commission (EC) to develop a large language model (LLM) for smaller European languages, LRT reports. The company won the EC’s Large AI Grand Challenge competition, which includes an award of EUR 250,000 and access to Europe’s most powerful supercomputer, LUMI, in Finland. Arturs…