Economy
Lithuanian farmers prove EU’s direct payments were cut unlawfully
The Court of Justice of the European Union (EU) has issued a ruling in a case regarding the reduction of direct payments to Lithuanian farmers for the year 2012. […]
Articles by ELTA EN
Defence
Lithuania could accept 6,000-8,000 NATO troops without logistics problems, defence minister says
According to Lithuania’s National Defence Minister Juozas Olekas, Lithuania at the moment would be ready to accept 6,000-8,000 NATO troops without any major logistical issues. […]
Politics
Seimas anti-corruption body to look into corruption allegations against social democratic and conservative politicians
The Seimas Anti-Corruption Commission, which has been granted an ad hoc investigative powers, will into corruption allegations surrounding social democratic politicians in Druskininkai and also the activities of influential Conservatives and their families. […]
Defence
Military conscription pushed up emigration from Lithuania, PM says
Lithuanian Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius says that youth emigration from the country could have been pushed up by the reinstalled compulsory military service. […]
European Union
Border controls introduced by some EU countries ‘unavoidable’, Grybauskaitė says
Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė says that the recent introduction of temporary border checks in Sweden is the outcome of failing to control the European Union‘s external borders. […]
Politics
Lithuanian PM supports forced alcoholism treatment
Lithuanian Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius says that he supports the proposal of introducing mandatory treatment of alcoholism in the country and believes that preparations for the programme could take around a year. […]
Uncategorized
PM Butkevičius rejects reports of agreement between Lithuania and Belarus on Astravets NPP
Lithuanian Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius has denied reports published by the Russian media, claiming that Lithuania and Belarus had agreed on the construction of Astravets Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) as required by the Espoo convention regarding environmental impact assessment. […]
European Union
Some of Cameron’s proposals require amending EU treaties, President Grybauskaitė says
President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė says most of the proposals brought forward by Prime Minister of the United Kingdom David Cameron concerning the European Union‘s (EU) reform would require negotiations, because complex procedures would have to be initiated to amend the EU’s treaties. […]
Politics
Reform of Lithuania’s Border Guard Service approved
On Wednesday, the Lithuanian Government approved structural reforms of the State Border Guard Service (VSAT) which had been put forward by Minister of the Interior Saulius Skvernelis. The reform is expected to help save funds on management costs, increase staff wages, boost their motivation, augment external border protection with material and human resources. […]
Economy
Lithuania’s banks plan more lending
According to the assessment of commercial banks, the financial status of residents and of the majority of the economic activities is improving – the survey of banks, initiated by the Bank of Lithuania, reveals that banks plan to increase loan portfolios moderately, the country’s central bank reports. […]
European Union
Lithuania’s Linkevičius: EU’s enlargement policy is investment in peace and stability in Europe
On 10 November, the European Commission (EC) adopted its annual Enlargement package – a set of documents explaining its policy on EU enlargement. In the set of annual reports, the EC has assessed where Turkey and the countries of the Western Balkans – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo – stand in preparing to meet EU membership requirements. […]
Foreign affairs
Lithuanian leaders congratulate Poland on Independence Day
Lithuanian leaders have congratulated Poland on its Independence Day. Poland celebrates its independence on 11 November, the day that marked the end of World War One in 1918. […]
Politics
Ethics watchdog asked to look into racist statement by Lithuanian MP
Social Democratic MP Juras Požela has asked the Seimas Commission on Ethics and Procedures to look into a statement by Liberal MP Dalia Teišerskytė where she compared an African-American with a toilet. […]
European Union
Lithuanian president: Migration crisis is only getting worse
Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė says that, despite all measures taken by the European Union (EU) and its member-states to manage the migrant and refugee flows, the migration crisis in Europe is only worsening. […]
Global LT
Seimas speaker thinks e-voting should first be introduced for expatriate voters
During her meeting on Tuesday with representatives of the Lithuanian World Community, Seimas Speaker Loreta Graužinienė noted that, in her opinion, Lithuania’s election system should be changed by 2020, while the first ones to try out e-voting should be Lithuanians residing abroad. […]
European Union
Lithuanians among most optimistic about EU future
The latest Eurobarometer survey has shown that an overall majority of Lithuanians (92 percent) have a positive opinion about the impact of the European Union‘s (EU) regional policy projects on regional growth in the country. Lithuanians are also very optimistic about the EU’s future, their new currency euro, and also feel increasingly more European. […]
Politics
Lithuanian PM disagrees that income gap is growing
Lithuanian Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius has contested suggestions that social exclusion in the country is growing. […]
Economy
Society
One arrested on suspicions of embezzling property of Ignalina NPP
The Special Investigation Service (STT) Panevėžys Department detained a person on suspicions of acting in a group of accomplices and misappropriating high-value property of Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), which is being decommissioned. The court gave authorisation to arrest the person for ten days. […]
Defence
Conscription lists for 2016 in Lithuania to be compiled in January
Mandatory military service lists in Lithuania for 2016 will be finalized on 7 January 2016. As in 2015, next year 3,000 young men will join the 9-month mandatory service. […]