Economy
Support for euro continues to grow in Lithuania
Some 68 percent of Lithuanians were in favour of the euro in mid-February, up by 8 percent from December, the latest poll commissioned by the central Bank of Lithuania has shown. […]
Articles by BNS
Defence
Conscription needed to fill army vacancies fast and less costly, Lithuanian president says
The restoration of military conscription has been proposed because it is the only quick way to form army units, says Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė. Besides, she adds, conscripts would cost less than training professionals. […]
Society
Lithuania’s LRT television to significantly expand its Russian-language programming
In response to informational pressure of the Kremlin-supported media, the Lithuanian national broadcaster LRT plans new programs for Russian-speakers in Lithuania and hopes to launch a program focused on explaining sources of propaganda and its methods of working. […]
Culture
Klaipėda to rebuild church demolished after WWII
Klaipėda, Lithuania’s third city on the Baltic coast, plans to rebuild St John’s Church that was demolished after World War Two. The new church will feature a tower of the original height of 75 meters, Klaipėda Municipality said on Wednesday. […]
Economy
Lithuanian Customs to focus on Belarusian border
With the flow of illegal goods from the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad declining, the Lithuanian Customs this year plan to focus more on the border with Belarus. […]
Foreign affairs
Lithuania’s Linkevičius urges US administration to back weapons support to Ukraine
At a meeting in Washington with US president’s senior adviser for European affairs Charles Kupchan, Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius discussed the nearest Allied actions in response to the violations of Minsk accords and urged the US administration to support provision of weapons to Ukraine, the Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday. […]
Uncategorized
British PM seconds warning that Baltic states could be Russia’s next target
Great Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron has joined the warnings made by other high-ranking officials about the possibility of the Baltic states being the next Russian target after Ukraine in an effort to test NATO‘s strength. […]
Foreign affairs
US must act together with Europe against Kremlin propaganda, Lithuanian top diplomat says
In an effort to fight Russian propaganda efforts and provide alternative sources of information for Russian-speakers, the United States and Europe must coordinate their actions, Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius has said in the US. […]
Politics
Early voting starts in Lithuanian local elections
Early voting in Lithuania’s local elections started on Wednesday, allowing voters who will not be able to come to polling booths on Sunday to cast their ballots for candidates to municipal councils, mayors and one vacant seat in parliament. […]
Politics
EP panel discusses Lithuanian MEP Uspaskich’s immunity
The European Parliament‘s Committee on Legal Affairs on Tuesday discussed the request from Lithuanian prosecutors to lift the legal immunity of Lithuanian MEP Viktor Uspaskich, the founder of the Labour Party, to put him on trial for fraud and insulting court. […]
Defence
Return of conscription may require revisions of Lithuanian army procurement, MP says
Return of military conscription system in Lithuania may require revising the planned defence acquisitions, says Artūras Paulauskas, chairman of the parliamentary National Security and Defence Committee. […]
Society
Lithuanian TV channel says hackers distorted TV poll results
Lithuanian TV channel TV3 said on Tuesday it had turned to law enforcement over a recent cyber attack that led to the distortion of the results of a TV viewers’ poll on Russian propaganda. […]
Society
Eleven arrested over bribery allegations in Lithuania’s pharmaceutical industry
Eleven representatives of a pharmaceutical company have been detained in Lithuania’s major cities of Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda, Šiauliai and Panevėžys under suspicions of bribery, the country’s Special Investigation Service said on Tuesday. […]
Defence
Lithuanian army chief: We will buy from Lithuanian producers if they offer good price-quality ratio
The Lithuanian army would be willing to buy from local producers but needs a good price-quality ratio that would match the market ratio, Chief of Defence of Lithuanian Major General Jonas Vytautas Žukas says. […]
Foreign affairs
Polish foreign minister: We should promote Polish-speakers’ involvement in Lithuania’s statehood
Poland should make an effort to ensure the rights of Lithuanian Poles, but also promote their involvement in Lithuania’s statehood, Polish Foreign Minister Grzegorz Schetyna has said. […]
Uncategorized
Lithuanian foreign minister: Ukraine truce is not working
The agreements on a truce in Ukraine are not working as separatists, supported by Russia, continue attacks in eastern Ukraine, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevičius said on Monday after discussing the existing situation with his Ukrainian counterpart. […]
European Union
EU institutions look into Lithuania’s controversial protection of minors law
Lithuania’s controversial law aimed at protecting minors from public information deemed harmful to their development has once again appeared under the radar of European Union (EU) institutions. The law, which says that minors should not be exposed to information denigrating “family values”, is said to discriminate against LGBT people. […]
Defence
Defence minister signs deal on NATO headquarters in Lithuania
Lithuania’s Defence Minister Juozas Olekas on Monday endorsed an agreement of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) and Allied Command Transformation (ACT) laying down the legal status of NATO elements of control and command in Lithuania, the ministry said. […]
Defence
Lithuanian defence chief receives reassurance from German general about military technology purchase
Lithuania’s Chief of Defence Major General Jonas Vytautas Žukas was on Monday assured by his German colleague, General Volker Wieker, that media reports about Berlin’s alleged refusal to sell armoured trucks was incorrect. […]
Society
Lithuania’s security agency warns about Russia upping its propaganda game
Lithuania’s State Security Department said on Monday it observed “increasingly obvious” Russian attempts to instigate an information war and spread its propaganda in the Lithuanian media and social networks. […]