Defence
Baltic States
Economy
EP member: Baltic states should be strong on Rail Baltica project
Amid the increasingly heated discussions in the Baltic states about the financing of the European-gauge Rail Baltica project from European Union (EU) funds, Wim van de Camp of the European Parliament’s Transport and Tourism Committee says that the three Baltic states would definitely secure European funding for the project, if they are strong and demonstrate determination for the huge investment. […]
Foreign affairs
Foreign Minister Linkevicius: NATO success depends on adapting to new challenges, collective defense
NATO should continue to be able to adapt to new challenges and focus on the key task of collective defense, as this will determine the Alliance’s future success, Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius says. […]
Economy
German business gives top ratings for the Baltic States
The Baltic States are among the best locations in Central and Western Europe. According to the economic survey conducted in 2017 by the German-Baltic Chamber of Commerce (AHK), Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are outperforming the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary, German-Baltic Chamber of Commerce announced in a press release. […]
Defence
Polish airmen scrambled for 1st time from Lithuania over Russian warplane
Polish fighter-jets serving in the NATO air-policing mission in the Baltic states were for the first time scrambled over a Russian warplane flying above the Baltic Sea. […]
CORPORATE
Karoblis about “Zapad”: there are no visible signs that it would be a prelude to a serious conflict
United States Secretary of Defence James Mattis has visited Lithuania for the first time. The visit of a high ranking officer is another confirmation that America pays special attention to the security of the Baltic […]
Defence
US secretary of defense Mattis arrives in Lithuania
United States Secretary of Defense James Mattis arrived in Lithuania on Tuesday evening on a visit, by which the US new administration aims to demonstrate its commitment to the security of the Baltic states amid concerns over Russia‘s foreign policies. […]
Economy
Baltic countries: Nord Stream 2 is a political project
The prime ministers of the three Baltic countries and Poland reiterated on Monday that the planned second Nord Stream gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea is a political project and underlined their opposition to the project. […]
Energy
Memorandum on Baltic synchronization should be signed in June
Lithuania and the other states of the Baltic Sea region should sign a memorandum of understanding in June on synchronization of the Baltic states with continental Europe via Poland. The document should give an impetus to the preparations for synchronized work of the networks. […]
CORPORATE
Rail Baltica – the key facts
The Prime Ministers of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are signing an agreement on the development of the European railway Rail Baltica on Tuesday. Smooth implementation of the project is expected by 2025. […]
European Union
Central, Eastern European politicians urge Trump to stop concessions to Russia
Central and Eastern European politicians have urged United States President-Elect Donald Trump to stop making concessions to Russian President Vladimir Putin, as he could view the steps as weaknesses and undertake provocations against the Baltic states and Poland. […]
Defence
President: US role remains trans-Atlantic security guarantee
At a meeting with United States senators visiting Vilnius on Thursday, Lithuania’s President Dalia Grybauskaitė emphasized the country’s role to trans-Atlantic security. […]
CORPORATE
Minister of Energy: paradox but occupation isn’t over in energy industry
The new Minister of Energy Žygimantas Vaičiūnas does not deny the possibility that in negotiations to disconnect from the so-called BRELL ring there could be tensions, but states that Russia understands the goals of Lithuania and other Baltic States perfectly well. […]
CORPORATE
Vaišnys: Russian propaganda is a part of its politics and its source – its president
Lithuanian schools need media literacy as a subject states Vilnius University Communications faculty dean Professor Andrius Vaišnys. […]
Defence
Russia’s Baltkran among Lithuanian Railway co’s partner in large-scale deals
The state-run company Lietuvos Geležinkeliai (Lithuanian Railways, LG) that has lately drawn attention from the media and the law-enforcement over lack of transparency was also engaged in million-euro deals with Baltkran company registered in the Russian Kaliningrad region, delfi.lt news portal said. […]
Opinion
Lithuanian view: What to expect from Russia in 2017?
2017 could be the year of Russia’s return – the signs of this were discussed in a Tuesday afternoon discussion organised by the the Eastern Europe Studies Centre (RESC) and VU TSPMI. The political scientists discussed the topic of “What will decide Russian foreign policy in 2017?” It is likely that the government rotation of the West, the resolution of the stalled Syrian conflict and strategic changes to the Russian tone will open opportunities for de-escalation and Putin’s return as a figure that is repulsive for many, but at the same time – an inevitable partner in resolving questions in the international political arena. […]
European Union
New nationalism and the Baltic States
Leading world’s news channels, newspapers and political commentators ring the alarm of the re-emergence of chauvinistic nationalist politics at the thresholds of Western democracies. After the rather unexpected results of the US presidential election and the Britain’s referendum, many hold their breath waiting for the voting results of other EU member states and anxiously wondering how far nationalist sentiments can spread though-out Europe like a black death. […]
Opinion
Economy
Half-hearted reforms won’t raise competitiveness of the Baltic Region – Swedbank
Russia has exited recession and now all the Baltic Sea region (BSR) economies are expanding, but growth is expected to be modest. The global rise of populism and anti-establishment moods, although promising fiscal expansion that may boost short-term growth, builds up risks of protectionism with a negative impact on long-term growth, Swedbank writes in its annual Baltic Sea Region Report. […]
CORPORATE
Russian propaganda most impactful on ethnic minorities
Europe has finally admitted what has been spoken about in Lithuania for a long time now – it is experiencing information attacks from Russia. This week the European Parliament passed a resolution which states that […]