Economy
IMF revises down GDP growth forecasts for Lithuania
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has revised down its forecast for Lithuania’s economic growth this year to 2.8 percent, from 3.3 percent projected last October. […]
Year: 2015
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Estonian Air accuses airBaltic of unfair competition
Estonia‘s airline Estonian Air is accusing the Latvian national airline airBaltic of unfair competition, according to the Estonian daily Postimees. […]
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Kaunas Jazz concerts planned in Tallinn this year
Kaunas Jazz festival, which will take place for the 25th time this year, will visit the Estonian capital Tallinn, in addition to the usual venues in Kaunas and Vilnius. Concerts are also planned in Birštonas and Vilkaviškis, both towns in southern Lithuania. […]
European Union
Current EU Structural Funds programming period to be last for Lithuania, PM says
Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius says that the European Union Structural Funds programming period for 2014-2020 will most likely be the last one for Lithuania, therefore funds should be allocated to improve economic and business conditions in the country’s regions. […]
Society
Half Lithuanians perceive widespread gender inequality
The latest Eurobarometer survey on gender equality has revealed that 49 percent of those polled in Lithuania believe that gender inequality is widespread in the country (54 percent among female respondents). […]
Defence
32 volunteers sign up for service in Lithuanian army in five days
Since 27 March, when the Armed Forces announced the registration of volunteer servicemen, 32 people, including 2 women, signed up for 9-month military service. […]
European Union
EU will not extend milk quotas, Lithuanian PM says
Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius says it is unrealistic to expect that European milk quota regime will be extended, but Lithuanian farmers can expect greater direct payments in the future. […]
Defence
Lithuanian foreign minister: NATO air policing mission contributes to Alliance’s overall security
The NATO air policing mission is a sign that the Allies are firmly committed to defending the Baltic states and adds to the Alliance‘s security, says Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius. […]
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Former Lithuanian PM invited to join Ukrainian president’s reform advisers team
Lithuania’s former prime minister Andrius Kubilius has been invited to join the council of foreign advisers set up by Ukraine‘s President Petro Poroshenko to help implement reforms in the country. […]
Energy
Lithuania to earmark additional EUR 3.1m for litigation with Gazprom
The Lithuanian government plans to earmark additional 3.14 million euros for litigation with Russia’s Gazprom at the United Nations’ arbitration court (UNCITRAL, United Nations’ Commission on International trade Law). […]
Opinion
Opinion: Putin’s party paid for by oil money (I)
On 26 March, fifteen years ago, Vladimir Putin was elected the president of Russia. The moment coincided with the start of a global oil price boom that brought billions in additional revenue to Russia. […]
Foreign affairs
US Congress delegation to visit Lithuania
A delegation of US congressman will arrive on a visit to Lithuania this week, on 2 April. […]
Culture
Orange bikes’ season begins in Vilnius
Vilnius city bike self-service system CycloCity Vilnius will start this season on 1 April. There are 37 self-service terminals installed in Vilnius. The stations are distributed in close proximity to each other in Vilnius city, Vilnius Tourist Information Centre reports. […]
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One professional Russian troll tells all
More and more, posts and commentaries on the Internet in Russia and even abroad are generated by professional trolls, many of whom receive a higher-than-average salary for perpetuating a pro-Kremlin dialogue online Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty web site RFERL.ORG reported. […]
Economy
Household consumption is becoming increasing factor of economic growth
With declining export and weakening economic growth, household consumption is becoming an ever increasing factor of economic growth. Having reached its peak ever since late 2007, consumer confidence provides hope that the negative influence of declining export to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) may be at least partially counterbalanced by growing consumption. On the other hand, it seems that Lithuanians will tend to save more this year, says Chief Economist of Swedbank, Vaiva Šečkutė. […]
Society
Late fine payment may result in refused driver’s license, gun permit
Persons who fail to pay administrative fines in time should not be issued new driver’s licenses and gun permits, the Lithuanian Interior Ministry has suggested. […]
Politics
Vilnius’ ruling coalition agreement signed
On Tuesday, an agreement on Vilnius City Council’s ruling coalition was signed. […]
Economy
Fitch gives Lithuania A-, outlook stable
Fitch Ratings has affirmed Lithuania’s Long-term foreign and local currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) at ‘A-‘. The outlooks are stable. The issue ratings on Lithuania’s senior unsecured foreign and local currency bonds have also been affirmed at ‘A-‘. The Country Ceiling has been affirmed at ‘AAA’ and the Short-term foreign currency IDR at ‘F1’, Reuters quotes the rating agency’s statement. […]
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Weapons flood into Putin’s European arms depot
While the world watched Russia’s North Fleet with trepidation as it launched surprise exercises near the Arctic Circle last week, Vladimir Putin has quietly been arming another area inside Europe’s borders: Kaliningrad, the Russian seaport city in a region sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania, with convenient access to the Baltic Sea. Vessels from Russia’s Baltic Fleet have delivered fighter jets and Iskander missile launchers to the former German city, from where missiles could reach not just to Warsaw and Vilnius but Germany as well, Elisabeth Braw writes in the Newsweek magazine. […]
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Responding to Kremlin Propaganda in the Baltics
How to counter Vladimir Putin’s propaganda? The EU is trying to decide on a strategy. Meanwhile—you read it here first—the Nordic and Baltics states are steaming ahead with a very concrete plan that will soon offer Russian-language television in the Baltic states, where Russian minorities today almost exclusively watch Kremlin-directed TV. Call it Nordic noir versus the Kremlin, Elizabeth Braw writes in the World Affairs magazine. […]