Economy
Lietuvos Geležinkeliai starts Rail Baltica territory planning
Lietuvos Geležinkeliai [Lithuanian Railways] is initiating the European gauge Rail Baltica territory planning stage, lrt.lt writes. […]
Year: 2019
CORPORATE
These presidential elections will be different: intrigue awaits
The nearing presidential elections will be rather different to the past two. In 2009, there was a clear leader and a second round wasn’t even needed, while in 2014 a second round did happen, but there was very little intrigue, lrt.lt writes. This time, however, things will be interesting – it will definitely be a new politician, who will arrive in Daukantas Square. Will this bring about greater voter turnout? […]
Politics
Society
Bad news from the courtroom for V. Gapšys
On Tuesday, the Lithuanian Court of Appeals rejected Vytautas Gapšys defence attorney’s complaint, which requested the withdrawal of restrictions on the accused, a written pledge to not leave the country, a press release states according to lrt.lt. […]
Foreign affairs
L. Linkevičius on events in Ukraine: the Normandy Four is practically non-functioning
The Lithuanian minister of foreign affairs says that the Normandy Four, which was assembled to resolve the Russian-Ukrainian conflict is practically non-functioning because apparently the Kremlin is awaiting the presidential elections in Ukraine, lrt.lt writes. […]
Society
Agrokoncernas responds to LRT investigation
In response to LRT information on the situation over “Farmer” leader Ramūnas Karbauskis‘ Agrokoncernas‘ import of fertiliser, the company published a press release on Monday. It states that supposedly “there are attempts to draw the company into political games.” According to the company, state institutions, lacking real answers regarding EU sanctions, are transferring responsibility to businesses, lrt.lt writes. […]
Society
Three schools – one director: education institution head shortage due to low wages and high requirements
It is not only the number of students that is declining in schools. For a time now, there has also been a shortage of education institution heads. There are few willing to take the jobs due to low wages and excessively high requirements. As such, some directors are heading three schools at the same time, lrt.lt writes. […]
Politics
PM dismisses criticism of gender inequality in his all-men cabinet
Lithuanian Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis on Friday dismissed criticism that Lithuania might become the only country in Europe where women are absent from the cabinet of ministers. […]
CORPORATE
Presidential candidate debate: candidates split into two groups
On Thursday, the first major presidential candidate debate was organised at Vytautas Magnus University (VDU). Following the debate, the lrt.lt portal asked experts for their views on the candidates’ performance. VDU professor Algis Krupavičius saw there being two groups of candidates, while Vilnius Institute of Political Analysis Medias Programme head Donatas Puslys stated that some candidates were fortunate to have good performances. […]
Economy
Internet connection in Lithuania – one of the cheapest in the European Union
According to the study of the European Commission, Lithuania is among four Member States of the European Union (EU), where the fixed broadband is the least expensive. It is accompanied by Romania, Latvia and Hungary. […]
Economy
Icelandic payment entrepreneurs establish HQ in Vilnius
Paystra, a fintech company founded and financed by Icelandic payments experts, providing payment services, is establishing its headquarters in Vilnius, Lithuania, and plans to build a team of 30 professionals over the next two years. The company, led by two payment market veterans, will develop and deploy state-of-the-art electronic payment solutions for European merchants, a press release from Invest Lithuania states. […]
Society
Punishments for minor felonies to be lessened: community service could apply
It has been proposed that lesser punishments such as house arrest or community service would be set for minor penalties. According to Minister of Justice Elvinas Jankevičius, this would not only reduce the likelihood of repeat offences, but would also save taxpayer money, lrt.lt writes. […]
Defence
Latvia’s private, nongovernmental sectors to be included in national defense system
The Latvian defense ministry proposes developing a comprehensive national defense system that would encompass not only the Baltic country’s defense sector and government institutions but also the private sector, nongovernmental organizations and individual residents, the ministry’s representatives informed Tuesday. […]
CORPORATE
Ramūnas Bogdanas. A question for Orthodox believers in Lithuania
A historic event has finally happened. The Istanbul-based Patriarch of Constantinople, who is the first among equals in the entire Orthodox world, signed a Tomos on Sunday, which granted autocephaly. In other terms, he declared it independent, just as free as the Ukrainian state. The Moscow patriarch, an ideological tendril of the Russian world, controlled from the Kremlin, is furious over it. […]
Defence
Lithuanian Army establishes new battalion for communications and information systems
The Lithuanian Army established on Tuesday its new Communications and Information Systems battalion amid developing new forms of security threats. […]
Energy
Lietuvos Energijos Gamyba initiates a unique pilot project in the Baltics – a battery energy storage system in the Kaunas hydropower plant
Lithuanian state-owned enterprise Lietuvos Energijos Gamyba, a part of Lietuvos Energija Group, has started preparations for 1 megawatt energy storage system installation in Kaunas Algirdas Brazauskas hydropower plant. Operating in synergy with the plant, the new storage system would become the first and the biggest innovation of this kind in the Baltic States, a press release from the group states. […]
Foreign affairs
Lithuania considers tightening Polish pork imports amid disagreements
Lithuania considers tightening Polish pork imports in response to the neighboring country’s recent ban on pork and pig imports from Lithuania, the country’s Agriculture Minister Giedrius Surplys said on Friday. […]
Central/Eastern Europe
Lithuanian MEPs to challenge Kremlin in the name of Eastern Partnership
Can the EU strengthen its relationships with its Eastern Partnership countries and encourage them to drift toward the West if it hasn’t established a unified and most importantly – firm – policy regarding Russia? It […]
CORPORATE
Vytautas Landsbergis’ wish for the Lithuanian government – less blood, more wisdom
“I hope that things will not be all bad in Lithuania, that we will avoid various collapses, violent actions, against the opposition for example. We are constantly beset by various scandals involving the government, the cabinet. While performing investigations on prior cabinets, it is time to prepare for investigations on this cabinet’s work and mistakes, which may or may not be malicious. There are things to investigate,” professor Vytautas Landsbergis says. On the starting year and what to expect in both domestic and foreign policy, a discussion on Delfi’s Dėmesio Centre with politician Vytautas Landsbergis. […]
Politics
Founding and operation conditions for civic electoral committees should be more similar to parties’ – political scientist
With a third more civic electoral committees aiming to participate in the municipal elections than during the last, Seimas Speaker Viktoras Pranckietis has stated that the conditions for establishing and operating parties should be simplified or made alike those of the committees. Political scientists believe otherwise – that committee founding and operation conditions should be made more akin to parties, whose accountability to voters is greater, lrt.lt writes. […]