Opinion
Latvia
Society
Lithuania’s death rates from overdoses twice EU average
The European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction has said that Lithuania’s mortality rate due to drug overdoses is more than twice the EU average. […]
Economy
Lithuania drops to 30th place in world competitiveness rankings
Lithuania has fallen to 30th place in the latest annual IMD World Competitiveness Rankings for 2016 though it remains a regional leader. […]
Uncategorized
Strange bedfellows: Latvian nationalists and ethnic Russians both want to block entrance of more Russians
It has often been remarked that politics can make strange bedfellows, bringing together groups that one could not imagine agreeing on anything. That is what has been happening in Latvia, where Latvian nationalists and ethnic-Russian residents of that Baltic country—for quite different reasons—both support restricting any further immigration into Latvia from the Russian Federation. […]
Defence
Economy
What are Lithuanians’ favourite brands?
A new survey by TNS Emor has revealed that Lithuanians’ favourite brands are those of global internet giants. […]
CORPORATE
Lithuanians sweeping seafood markets in Riga
Lithuanian buyers are going to the Latvian capital to shop for fish and seafood. Recently, Lithuanian flows to seafood markets in Riga have risen 89%, Lrytas.lt reports. On Fridays and Saturdays, Lithuanians make up one […]
CORPORATE
Lithuanian MP cuts connections with pro-Kremlin organization following media exposé
MP Valerijus Simulik, who is seeking reelection to the Lithuanian parliament with the Peasant and Greens Union, had been revealed to foster associations with a pro-Kremlin group, but claims to have cut the links after […]
Defence
Nord Stream 2 could be Russian cover to militarize Gotland – political scientist
The Nord Stream 2 project must be considered not just for its economic and energy significance, but for its military security aspect. Political scientist Margarita Šešelgytė believes that the pipeline would give the Russian military a reason to militarise the Swedish island of Gotland, which is significant when it comes to NATO forces and access to the Baltics. […]
European Union
EU criticises Lithuania for sluggish record in resettling refugees
Lithuania has been slow in taking in refugees under the European Union‘s resettlement programme and is lagging behind Latvia and Estonia, according to the European Commission. […]
Foreign affairs
Swedish broadcaster apologizes for mixing up Lithuania and Latvia in Eurovision brochure
Sweden‘s public TV broadcaster SVT has apologized for presenting Lithuania‘s Donny Montell as a Latvian singer in the official 2016 Eurovision brochure. […]
Energy
Energy
Baltic States aim to create single gas market
The Baltic States are considering creating a single gas market that would facilitate gas trading among the three countries and may include Finland. […]
CORPORATE
Lithuania only Baltic state to see exports grow in Q1
Lithuania‘s exports grew by an annual rate of 1% to €5.2 billion in the first quarter of 2016. Lithuania was the only Baltic country to post an increase in exports in the first quarter of […]
Defence
CORPORATE
Lithuania to receive ‘less than 10% of €150m EIB startup funding’
The European Investment Bank granted €150 million to support innovative, risky startups and businesses in the Baltic countries and Finland but Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia may only get a little more than one tenth of […]
Politics
Linkevičius outlines Lithuania’s path to OECD membership in wake of Latvian acceptance
The fight against corruption and the overhaul of state-owned companies are the key challenges that Lithuania will face on its path to membership of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius said on Wednesday. […]
Uncategorized
Latvia beats Lithuania to OECD membership
Latvia will become the second Baltic state to join the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The country’s Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday it had received an invitation to join the 34-country bloc often described as the rich club. […]
CORPORATE
Property prices in Vilnius still over 30% below pre-crisis peak
Property prices in Vilnius are still 38.7% below their pre-crisis peak before a housing bubble burst with the financial crisis, only Tallinn of the Baltic capitals has seen its prices recover to near pre-crisis levels. […]
Uncategorized
Putin’s ‘master plan’ for the Baltic States – new investigation
A new documentary by leading Baltic journalists investigates the Russian President Vladimir Putin‘s master plan for and interference in the Baltic States by following a $100 million money trail that funds Russian-backed proxies in the Baltics. […]