Politics
European Union
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. […]
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. […]
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. […]
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. […]
CORPORATE
CORPORATE
Vytautas Sinica. Euro federalism is eroding the European Union
Compared to Lithuania, no other state better understood the fact that membership in the EU and NATO – especially NATO – was (and still is) essential to the country’s long-term survival and the assurance of national interests. It was this goal of achieving the membership that motivated and led Lithuania forward during its first decade of independence. Lithuania always associated NATO with safety and EU with welfare and benefits – and, sadly, better governance as well. […]
Economy
Lithuania no longer cheap country as regards food: official price probe
Lithuania is no longer a cheap country as regards food prices, Irma Gudžiūnaitė, Lithuania’s vice minister of justice, said on Thursday while presenting results of a comparison-based analysis of food prices in 12 different EU member states. […]
CORPORATE
Vytautas Keršanskas. Let‘s stop talking about a European military
In recent months, we hear ever more intensive discussions on the creation of a European military. The topic has been covered by figures ranging from the heads of the largest European Union country heads of state to the presidential candidates in Lithuania. However, one must note that it is an equally impossible to even begin implementing idea as, say, an EU Olympic team or football team. […]
CORPORATE
Luminor economists forecast Lithuania’s economy to slow down in 2019, however the year will be good for reforms
Luminor economists forecast economy to grow at 2.7% next year in Lithuania, as external economic environment is expected to deteriorate. The GDP growth will be detained by increasingly active seismic zones in global macroeconomic landscape. Economists suggest that in the eve of cyclical slowdown, three ideas could help to prepare for slowdown, a press release from Luminor states. […]
CORPORATE
Ramūnas Bogdanas. Skvernelis’ godfather Paksas visits Putin
When the Order and Justice party negotiated with the then still whole Social Democrats to join the latter’s’ coalition, the usual division of posts proceeded. Order and Justice received the post of minister of the interior. It turned out that among them, they lacked a politician capable of handling this difficult office; after all, this minister handles both public order matters, the police and municipalities. […]
CORPORATE
Presidential candidate discussion features pointed remarks: you want to open a gate to the East
The Eastern Europe Studies Centre organised its fourth Stasys Lozoraitis Annual Lithuanian Foreign Policy Conference, which featured a debate between potential presidential candidates on Lithuania’s position with the European Union resolving fundamental political challenges. The discussion had no lack of laughter and pointed remarks exchanged. […]
Economy
D. Grybauskaitė: the EU will owe us
Lithuanian farmers will not receive the sort of direct grants from the EU as were promised already in 2013. “This means that the EU will owe us,” Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė told LRT Radio before departing to negotiations on the EU’s new budget. However, the situation could be even worse. According to the president, if the UK will not depart the EU as planned due to political chaos, the budget, which does not satisfy Lithuania already, will decline even further. […]
Economy
Revolut turns new page with Lithuania-facilitated banking license
Today, Revolut together with the Bank of Lithuania have announced that the challenger bank received a Specialised Banking License, which will allow offering and passporting an even wider range of solutions to customers in Europe. The move of getting a license in mainland Europe has been considered by many a hedge against Brexit. Having received both the Specialised Banking license and Electronic Money Institution facilitated by the Bank of Lithuania, Revolut is now effectively safe from any decision regarding Britain leaving the EU. From 2019, Revolut will start accepting deposits and offering retail and business lending, making it an even bigger rival for traditional banks, a press release from Invest Lithuania states. […]
CORPORATE
Virginijus Savukynas. A bag full of holes that is the education system
The teachers’ strike is a good thing because it encouraged to take interest in what is going on in this system. And a number of factors emerged. It turns out that Lithuania finances this sector quite well. […]
CORPORATE
Kęstutis Girnius. Low taxation – low teachers’ wages
The desire of the public sector to have better lives and fighting to obtain it is understandable. […]
Economy
Moody’s chooses Vilnius for its new European location
Moody’s Corporation has chosen Vilnius, Lithuania as the location for its newest European office. Moody’s provides credit ratings, research, tools and analysis that contribute to transparent and integrated financial markets. Moody’s expects to grow its new office over the next few years and chose Vilnius over a number of other European cities. Hiring of staff in Vilnius is expected to start in January, 2019, a press release from Invest Lithuania states. […]
CORPORATE
Who sympathises with German radicals in Lithuania?
Under the guise of their sense of national identity, anti-Ukrainian influence agencies in Lithuania have invited members of the Alternative for Germany (AfD), an opposition political party, to Lithuania. […]
CORPORATE
R. Lopata: it could appear that we have become a presidential republic
Lithuanian foreign policy is weakened by the fact that all the powers of its formation and implementation are focused in one location – the institution of the president, while its other centres – the cabinet and Seimas are passive, political scientist Raimundas Lopata tells lrt.lt. “Lithuania is a unique country, whose prime ministers do not go to Brussels. It could appear to some that Lithuania has become a presidential republic,” the professor is quoted by lrt.lt. […]
Economy
Contribution of volunteers to the budget of Lithuania – even 7.4%
Celebrating the International Volunteer Day we are pleased to announce that more people in Lithuania are dedicating their time for volunteering. Congratulations to every citizen for such a conscious choice, which adds value to the various non-profit organizations, raises the social capital of the individual, and also contributes to the state budget, a press release from the Non-Governmental Organizations Information and Support Centre states. […]