LITHUANIA DAILY NEWS BULLETIN

IN THIS ISSUE:

1. Upcoming events in Lithuania for Monday, July 7, 2025
2. Lithuania records no illegal border crossings from Belarus
3. Lithuania voices protest to Russia over its largest drone assault on Ukraine
4. Lithuanian president: border checks on travelers are capitulation to irregular migration
5. German president in Vilnius: your freedom is also our freedom
6. German president: Germany should organize cultural season in Lithuania
7. "It's a great honor": Australian rescuer of Lithuanian rower Mockus receives state award
8. Border guards rep: Lithuanian officers to regulate traffic flow at Polish border if needed
9. Wife of US serviceman who died in Pabrade: "I'm really grateful to Lithuanian community"
10. Eurogroup president to be elected on Monday with Lithuania's Sadzius among candidates
11. Heads of Lithuanian diplomatic missions holding annual meeting in Vilnius
12. Lithuania’s outgoing ambassador to United States to be appointed deputy foreign minister
13. Lithuanian PM: Germany's leadership in Europe is very important
14. FM: Lithuania's main foreign policy priority is to ensure national security
15. IEA director praises Lithuania for halting energy imports from Russia
16. Lithuanian finance minister withdraws from race for Eurogroup president
17. Lithuanian finance minister withdraws from race for Eurogroup president (expands)
18. Travelers face checks on Lithuanian-Polish border as Warsaw re-introduces border controls
19. Exit out of Lithuanian smooth as Poland re-introduces border – service
20. Baltics agree to step up cooperation in preparation for universal defense
21. Lithuania ready to launch cultural exchange program with Germany – Nauseda
22. NATO jets in Baltics scrambled once to identify Russian aircraft
23. Police launch pre-trial probe after Kaunas mayor hits pedestrian

Upcoming events in Lithuania for Monday, July 7, 2025

VILNIUS, Jul 07, BNS – The following events are scheduled in Lithuania for Monday, July 7, 2025:

PRESIDENT Gitanas Nauseda and PRESIDENT Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany to visit the Old Town of Klaipeda, then travel to Nida hosting cultural events to commemorate the 150th birth anniversaries of Thomas Mann, a German novelist and the Nobel Prize in Literature laureate, and Mikalojus Konstantinas Ciurlionis, Lithuania's most renowned composer and painter.

SPEAKER OF THE SEIMAS Saulius Skvernelis to meet with heads of Lithuanian diplomatic missions, missions to international organizations, and consular offices at 11 a.m.; to meet with Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, and the accompanying delegation at 1 p.m.

OTHER EVENTS

The Martynas Mazvydas National Library of Lithuania to host a presentation of Lithuania’s energy policy review prepared by the International Energy Agency (IEA) at 9 a.m., to be followed by comments to the media by Energy Minister Zygimantas Vaiciunas and IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol at 10.50 a.m.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Vertimų skyrius

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Vilnius newsroom

Lithuania records no illegal border crossings from Belarus

VILNIUS, Jul 07, BNS – Lithuanian border guards recorded no attempts to cross into the country from Belarus illegally for the third day in a row on Sunday, the State Border Guard Service (SBGS) said on Monday morning.

Latvia reported 85 illegal border crossing attempts on Sunday. Poland denied entry to 63 irregular migrants on Saturday, according to the latest available information.

Lithuania has barred 917 irregular migrants from entering from Belarus at non-designated places so far this year, after turning away 1,002 in 2024.

The influx of irregular migrants into the EU's eastern member states from Belarus began in 2021 and is blamed by the West on the Minsk regime.

Lithuanian border guards have prevented around 23,900 people from crossing illegally from Belarus since the start of the migration crisis triggered by the neighboring country. The number includes repeated attempts by the same people to cross the border.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +370 5 239 64 16, Vilnius newsroom

Lithuania voices protest to Russia over its largest drone assault on Ukraine

VILNIUS, Jul 07, BNS – Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry on Friday summoned the acting charge d’affaires of the Russian Embassy in Lithuania to voice its protest over Russia's biggest drone and missile attack yet in the three-year war in Ukraine.

“Russia has once again been urged to immediately cease its illegal aggression against Ukraine, stop all hostilities, withdraw its armed forces from Ukrainian territory, and compensate Ukraine for all damage caused by Russia's military aggression,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The hours-long bombardments in the early hours of Friday sent Ukrainians scurrying for shelters across the country and came after a call between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which ended without a breakthrough.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Vilnius newsroom

Lithuanian president: border checks on travelers are capitulation to irregular migration

VILNIUS, Jul 07, BNS – Checks on travelers at Lithuania’s and Germany’s borders represent a capitulation to irregular migration, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has said.

“We can all probably agree that such internal controls taking place in the Schengen area reflect certain accumulated problems that we believe cannot be solved by other means. However, such measures must undoubtedly be temporary and must achieve results as quickly as possible and be terminated,” he told a press conference on Sunday.

According to Nauseda, Poland's decision to introduce checks from Monday night only shows that it is not yet possible to “ideally control” the external borders.

“But we must strive to do that and we must abandon as soon as possible those measures that are not characteristic of the European Union and which, let me put it this way, represent a temporary capitulation to the problem,” the Lithuanian leader said.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who is visiting Lithuania, said that his country is trying to resolve the issue of irregular migrants together with Poland.

“Germany introduced these controls when large numbers of migrants arrived in the country... We are coordinating with Poland on how to resolve that situation. I hope that this will not lead to a long-term dispute between Germany and Poland,” he said.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +370 5 239 64 16, Vilnius newsroom

German president in Vilnius: your freedom is also our freedom

VILNIUS, Jul 07, BNS – Lithuania's security and freedom are an integral part of Germany's security and freedom, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who is visiting Lithuania, has said.

“The German brigade is the most visible sign of our unity, an exemplary project of this turning point in history. Our soldiers here in Lithuania confirm our Alliance's promise, which means that your security is also our security, and your freedom is also our freedom,” he said on Sunday during a joint press conference with the Lithuanian president in Vilnius.

Germany has committed to permanently deploy a brigade of approximately 5,000 troops and civilians in Lithuania by the end of 2027.

According to Steinmeier, the decision to deploy a brigade in Lithuania also reflects the changing attitude of German society.

He recalled that about a decade ago, when he was foreign minister, it was decided to increase defense spending to 2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), which the Germans viewed unfavorably due to their historical experience.

“Many people in Germany now view the deployment of the brigade in Lithuania positively. This shows that the society now understands that we need to invest more in defense. German society has realized that the European security architecture has changed, that it could be destroyed by Russian aggression, and that we must respond to this. We are therefore prepared to invest more in armaments and defense,” the German president said.

According to him, there is no shortage of volunteers in Germany who want to serve in Lithuania, but he also welcomed the discussions that have begun in the country on the reintroduction of compulsory military service.

“We must continue this discussion because if there are not enough volunteers joining the army, there will be gaps, and given the changed security situation in Europe, we will have no choice but to return to compulsory military service,” Steinmeier said.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda emphasized that cooperation between Lithuania and Germany in the field of security and defense has reached a historic level – a month ago, the permanently deployed German brigade “Lietuva” (“Lithuania”) was officially inaugurated in Vilnius.

In less than two years since the decision was made, international agreements were signed, infrastructure construction began in Rudninkai, Salcininkai District, the brigade headquarters was established, and the first soldiers arrived.

According to the Lithuanian leader, close cooperation is also taking place in the defense industry, with Lithuania's purchases from Germany already exceeding 2 billion euros. Lithuania is buying Leopard 2 tanks, Boxer armored vehicles, and PzH 2000 howitzers. Construction of a Rheinmetall ammunition factory will also begin in the country soon.

During their meeting in Vilnius, the presidents also discussed military mobility.

According to Nauseda, the needs of Lithuania alone in this area amount to 3.5 billion euros, so it is essential to ensure sufficient funding for strategic infrastructure projects.

The German president is visiting Lithuania on the occasion of State Day (Day of Coronation of King Mindaugas) and National Anthem Day.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +370 5 239 64 16, Vilnius newsroom

German president: Germany should organize cultural season in Lithuania

VILNIUS, Jul 07, BNS – Following Lithuania’s cultural season in Germany, Berlin should respond in the same manner, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has said.

“I am delighted that Lithuania is planning a Lithuanian cultural season in Germany and wish this project every success. Today we discussed that Germany should organize a similar season in Lithuania afterwards,” he said on Sunday after a meeting with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda. 

Lithuania organized a cultural season in France last year.

The Season of Lithuania in France 2024 saw almost 300 performances by Lithuanian artists and creators, and involved over 500 authors, performers, and other cultural figures, along with over 130 bilateral partnerships. Events took place in more than 80 cities and towns across France.

Nauseda has said that the three-month cycle of events, exhibitions, and other cultural activities, which proved to be a great success, has become an example of inspiration for Lithuanian cultural programs in Germany and Italy.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Vilnius newsroom

"It's a great honor": Australian rescuer of Lithuanian rower Mockus receives state award

VILNIUS, Jul 06, BNS – Australian Lieutenant Fraser Baird, an Australian Navy officer who rescued Lithuanian rower Aurimas Mockus after he was caught in a storm in the Pacific Ocean, on Sunday received a state award in Lithuania and called it "a great honor".

"It's a great honor to myself. I received this is really as a representative of the team of the Royal Australian Navy and everyone who was directly involved in the in the mission to save life," he told reporters at the Presidential Palace on Sunday.

"It's a great honor to be in Lithuania. It's my first time in Lithuania. And to be invited to the Presidential Palace as well is a great honor for me," he added.

Three other people who contributed to the rescue operation, including Harry Wilson, Kaylene Dale and Jorian Kippax, also received state awards.

Mockus said that Baird was the first person to touch him when he got off the boat.

"This is the officer from the boat that rescued me, of course he is the only one of his crew, there were about 190 of them," Mockus said.

Mockus he was caught in a storm in the Pacific Ocean in March as he was trying to row across the Pacific Ocean. He had set sail from San Diego, California, on October 15 and planned to row to Brisbane in Australia.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Vilnius newsroom

Border guards rep: Lithuanian officers to regulate traffic flow at Polish border if needed

VILNIUS, Jul 07, BNS – Lithuanian officers are ready to regulate traffic flows, if necessary, following Poland's decision to resume checks on travelers from Lithuania, starting from Monday.

“If traffic starts to build up, we will work with the police and Public Security Service officers to regulate those flows and will communicate with our colleagues in Poland to ensure that people do not experience any problems crossing the border and that the checks are as quick as possible,” Colonel Antanas Montvydas, deputy chief of the State Border Guard Service (SBGS), told the LRT Radio on Monday morning.

According to his information, Polish officers will continuously check people crossing the border at the Kalvarija, Lazdijai, and railway border crossing points, while checks at the other ten declared border crossing points will be carried out according to established risk factors.

According to Montvydas, these factors are determined by Polish officers.

He said that Lithuanian officers usually check vans, passenger cars from certain countries, and buses in their fight against secondary migration.

Poland rolled out additional controls at 1 a.m. Lithuanian time on Monday, July 7.

The checks are planned to take place at 13 checkpoints: Ogrodniki (on the Lithuanian side – Janaslavas, Lazdijai, Lazdijai District), Budzisko (Salaperaugis, Kalvarija, Kalvarija Municipality), Trakiszki (railway, Mockava, Kalvarija Municipality), Grzybina (Varteliai, Vistytis, Vilkaviskis District), Sudawskie (Vygreliai, Vilkaviskis District), Krejwiany (Liubavas, Vilkaviskis District), Poszeszupie (Ziogaiciai, Reketija, Kalvarija Municipality), Trompole (Trumpaliai, Kalvarija Municipality), Krejwiany (Senieji Alksnenai, Kalvarija Municipality), Burbiszki (Galiniai, Lazdijai District), Dusznica (Tarnauka, Lazdijai District), Podlaski (Kalediskiai, Lazdijai District), Berzniki (Kauknoris, Kapciamiestis, Lazdijai District).

According to Montvydas, residents traveling from Lithuania to Poland must carry personal identification documents with them.

He also advised against giving lifts to foreigners who do not have documents.

The SBGS deputy chief confirmed that Lithuania is not considering renewing document checks at the border with Latvia, from where the so-called secondary migration is taking place.

“We are trying to work with our colleagues on the Latvian border, and today eight of our officers are leaving to help strengthen Latvia's external border,” Montvydas said on Monday.

According to him, since the beginning of the year, the SBGS, the Public Security Service, and police officers have been conducting selective checks at the Latvian border to stop secondary migration.

Poland has said it is introducing checks at its borders with Germany and Lithuania in order to stop secondary irregular migration, whereby foreigners enter the European Union from Belarus.

According to data released by the SBGS last week, a total of 352 irregular migrants who entered Latvia from Belarus and then attempted to reach Western Europe via Lithuania and Poland were detained in the first half of 2025.

Compared to the first half of 2024, when 140 such migrants were detained, the flow of irregular secondary migration from Latvia increased by two and a half times in January-June this year.

The influx of irregular migrants into the EU's eastern member states from Belarus began in 2021 and is blamed by the West on the Minsk regime.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +370 5 239 64 16, Vilnius newsroom

Wife of US serviceman who died in Pabrade: "I'm really grateful to Lithuanian community"

VILNIUS, Jul 07, BNS – The wife of one of the four US servicemen who died at the Pabrade training area in Lithuania says she felt unity and support during the rescue operation and is grateful to Lithuania for its efforts to bring the officers home.

"With everything that happened, it was very out of nowhere and, at one point, I felt like I didn't have much hope, but I kept my faith and then seeing on the news and seeing all the Lithuanian government, the people just showing out to support, like trying whatever that they can help by prayers, by offering help with machinery," Karen Diaz, the wife of late Staff Sergeant Jose Duenez Jr.

"It just showed like we were all united in a way and it made me feel like I had people holding my back, like making sure that I was standing still. It was really nice, very beautiful," she added. "Being able to come here, it was very beautiful. I've met people on the streets and they are giving me condolences and they say they're here for me and for everybody else. So, it's it's very nice, very beautiful. I'm really grateful to the Lithuanian community, their government, everyone because they've shown so much support to us."

On Sunday, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda posthumously awarded the fallen US soldiers medals of the Order of the Cross of Vytis for their merits in strengthening the national defense system, exceptional devotion to duty and self-sacrifice in the performance of their duties during the NATO-allied exercises.

The president posthumously awarded the US Army Staff Sergeant Troy S. Knutson-Collins, 28, from Michigan, Staff Sergeant Jose Duenez, 25, from Illinois, Staff Sergeant Edvin F. Franco, 25, from California, and Sergeant Dante D. Taitano, 21, from Guam.

Major General Curtis Taylor, commander of the 1st Armored Division, told reporters that he's "unbelievably grateful for the gratitude and the support that we've received from the Lithuanian people throughout this terrible tragedy that happened to our soldiers just three months ago".

"It's been incredibly meaningful for them to see the site. We took the families out to the site where the tragedy took place to see and appreciate the work that was done on their behalf to recover their fallen soldiers," he said.

As BNS reported earlier, the four US soldiers went missing with their M88 Hercules armored recovery vehicle during a training exercise at the Pabrade training area on March 25. The search and rescue operation lasted a week and involved Lithuanian, US, Polish, Estonian troops, officials and civilians.

The vehicle with the bodies of the three soldiers was recovered from a swamp on March 31, and the body of the fourth soldier was found the next day.

People in Lithuania donated over 200,000 euros to the families of the fallen soldiers during a fundraising campaign initiated by Laisves TV

The cause of the soldiers' deaths is being investigated by the American side, and the Lithuanian Prosecutor General's Office has already closed the related pre-trial investigation.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Vilnius newsroom

Eurogroup president to be elected on Monday with Lithuania's Sadzius among candidates

VILNIUS, Jul 07, BNS – The president of the Eurogroup is set to be elected on Monday, with Lithuanian Finance Minister Rimantas Sadzius among the three candidates for the position.

Besides Sadzius, the group's incumbent president, Irish Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe, and Spanish Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo are also in the race.

Sadzius told BNS that as Lithuania prepares to take over the rotating EU presidency in the first half of 2027, this post will be useful during this process. 

"As my own experience shows, (...) you need to prepare in advance. Within the framework of these preparations, the work within the European institutions will have to be intensified," the minister told BNS last week, calling the European Union's financial perspective one of the most important upcoming issues.

"We are actively involved in discussions on EU legislation and other discussions, but we will have to be even more involved because there is a very difficult issue coming up, the EU's financial perspective for the next period where the Lithuanian presidency is likely to be involved in the hottest discussions," Sadzius said.

The Eurogroup chair is tasked with making sure EU countries that use the euro coordinate national financial policies -- a job whose significance was on full show during the 2008 global financial crisis.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.,

Heads of Lithuanian diplomatic missions holding annual meeting in Vilnius

VILNIUS, Jul 07, BNS – The annual meeting of heads of Lithuanian diplomatic missions is kicking off in Vilnius, with the main focus on support for Ukraine, security and defense issues, and getting ready to take over the presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2027.

According to the Foreign Ministry, Lithuanian diplomats will also discuss the EU agenda, partnerships in Europe, and economic diplomacy.

Over the course of five days, the diplomats will meet with President Gitanas Nauseda, Speaker of the Seimas Saulius Skvernelis, Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas, the ministers of foreign affairs, economy and innovation, and transport, as well as the parliamentary Committees on Foreign Affairs and on European Affairs.

The participants of the annual meeting will also visit the Grand Duke Algirdas Battalion of the Lithuanian Armed Forces in Rukla, where they will discuss national security issues, military cooperation between Lithuania and its allies, and will meet with the German Brigade and the NATO Multinational Battle Group in Lithuania.

The meeting of heads of Lithuanian diplomatic missions and consular offices is organized annually to assess achievements and agree on goals for the future.

Lithuania currently has 44 embassies, ten consular offices, eight representations to international organizations, an office in Palestine, and a Skopje branch of its embassy in Croatia.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Vilnius newsroom

Lithuania’s outgoing ambassador to United States to be appointed deputy foreign minister

VILNIUS, Jul 07, BNS – Audra Plepyte, who will finish her term as Lithuania’s ambassador to the United States on July 14, will become the fourth deputy foreign minister.

“Plepyte will take up her duties as deputy minister on July 15,” Zivile Didzgalviene, adviser to Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys, told BNS.

The diplomat will be responsible for transatlantic cooperation, global politics, and global Lithuania issues.

The positions of deputy foreign ministers are currently held by former presidential adviser Sigitas Mitkus, diplomat Julius Pranevicius, and former deputy justice minister Gabija Grigaite-Daugirde.

Born in 1971, Plepyte has served as Lithuania’s ambassador to Spain and the World Tourism Organization, Lithuania's permanent representative to the United Nations. She also headed the UNICEF Executive Board Bureau for one year.

The diplomat has also been awarded the Knight's Cross of the Order for Merits to Lithuania.

Plepyte, who has served as Lithuania’s ambassador to the United States since 2021, will be replaced by diplomat Gediminas Varvuolis.

President Gitanas Nauseda signed a decree to that effect on Friday.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Vilnius newsroom

Lithuanian PM: Germany's leadership in Europe is very important

VILNIUS, Jul 07, BNS – Germany's leadership in Europe is very important, Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas said on Monday during a meeting with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who is visiting Lithuania.

“Germany's leadership in the region and in Europe is extremely important, and a practical and very valuable manifestation of this leadership is the recently inaugurated German brigade in Lithuania,” a press release from the government quoted him as saying.

Germany has committed to permanently deploy a brigade of approximately 5,000 troops and civilians in Lithuania by the end of 2027.

According to the prime minister, cooperation between Lithuania and Germany is an example to allies in all areas.

While discussing security and defense, he noted that Lithuania was allocating 4 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) to national defense this year and planned to allocate 5.25 percent next year.

“Another important component of security is the defense industry, which is why Lithuania is developing its capacities and inviting foreign investors to cooperate,” the prime minister added.

During their meeting, Paluckas and the German president discussed the security situation in the region, with Russia continuing its war against Ukraine, in which Belarus is also involved, and the hybrid aggression against countries supporting Ukraine.

They also highlighted the importance of transatlantic partnership with the United States and the need to deepen cooperation between countries in the region – the Nordic-Baltic Eight, Germany, and Poland.

On Monday, Paluckas and the German president also visited Antakalnis Cemetery in Vilnius and the Paneriai Memorial, where they paid tribute to the memory of Lithuanian freedom fighters and Holocaust victims.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +370 5 239 64 16, Vilnius newsroom

FM: Lithuania's main foreign policy priority is to ensure national security

VILNIUS, Jul 07, BNS – Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys on Monday met with the heads of Lithuania's diplomatic missions, consular offices, and representative offices to discuss the most important geopolitical issues and emphasized that the main priority of the country's foreign policy is to ensure national security.

“The most important priority of Lithuania's foreign policy is to ensure national security. We must maintain NATO's role as the cornerstone of security in the transatlantic space and increase Europe's contribution to collective security,” a press release from the Foreign Ministry quoted Budrys as saying.

He also stressed that the outcome of Russia's war against Ukraine is a matter of existential importance for Lithuania's security, and therefore mobilizing support for Ukraine remains one of Lithuania's foreign policy priorities.

“In order to defend itself and continue to defend the security of all of Europe, Ukraine needs air defense capabilities, ammunition, and munitions. Lithuania has been a consistent supporter of Ukraine from the very beginning and is one of the leaders in terms of military assistance. We urge other European countries to provide military assistance to Ukraine to the best of their ability, especially since the prospect of such assistance from the United States is currently unclear,” Budrys said.

According to the Foreign Ministry, Lithuania’s top diplomat also emphasized the importance of maintaining a rules-based international order.

“It is important for Lithuania to ensure that the Russian and Belarusian regimes are held accountable for war crimes and crimes against humanity so that they are not repeated in the future. The lessons of history have shown us that impunity leads to even greater cruelty and continued aggression. We must stop this and prevent authoritarian regimes from achieving their goals of destroying the rules-based international order,” the minister said.

Participants of the meeting also discussed other foreign policy priorities, including Lithuania's Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2027 and economic diplomacy tasks.

The strengthening of bilateral relations and cooperation between the Nordic and Baltic countries (NB8) was discussed, too.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +370 5 239 64 16, Vilnius newsroom

IEA director praises Lithuania for halting energy imports from Russia

VILNIUS, Jul 07, BNS – Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), has praised Lithuania for ending energy imports from Russia, synchronizing the Baltic countries' electricity systems with continental Europe, as well as, according to him, for being the fastest among the organization's member countries in developing renewable resources.

At the same time, the agency's head urges Lithuania to ensure greater energy efficiency of buildings, pay more attention to centralized heating, and strengthen electricity grids and system flexibility.

“In the year 2021, the total energy imports of this country from Russia was close to three billion [US] dollars. Three billion, which is about 5 percent of the country’s economy, GDP. In terms of oil, in terms of gas, in terms of electricity, even a bit of coal. And today, it is zero. It's a huge achievement. In such a short period of time, with the limited means this country has, to bring it from there to here is a big achievement,” Birol said on his first-ever visit to Vilnius on Monday.

According to him, the synchronization of the Baltic countries' electricity grids in early February is seen by many as an engineering achievement, but, according to the IEA head, it is also very important politically.

Another Lithuania’s achievement mentioned by Birol is the rapid pace of growth of renewable electricity generation, where Lithuania leads the way compared to other IEA countries.

“I asked them [my colleagues from the IEA], is there any other, out of our 32 member countries, is there any other country, how many other countries were able to double their renewable electricity generation in the last two years? My few colleagues looked at the numbers and I received the answer yesterday night. Lithuania was the number one country among all of our countries,” he said.

Lithuania was officially invited to join the IEA in 2021 and became a full-fledged member in 2022 after the Seimas ratified the agreement.

Editor: Roma Pakėnienė

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Vilnius newsroom

Lithuanian finance minister withdraws from race for Eurogroup president

VILNIUS, Jul 07, BNS – Lithuanian Finance Minister Rimantas Sadzius has withdrawn as a candidate for president of the Eurogroup, he told BNS on Monday.

The new president will be elected later in the day.

Now, there are two candidates for the position – the group's incumbent president, Irish Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe, and Spanish Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo are also in the race.

Sadzius told BNS earlier that as Lithuania prepares to take over the rotating EU presidency in the first half of 2027, this post will be useful during this process, especially during the debate on the EU's new multi-annual budget.

The Eurogroup chair is tasked with making sure EU countries that use the euro coordinate national financial policies -- a job whose significance was on full show during the 2008 global financial crisis.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Vilnius newsroom

Lithuanian finance minister withdraws from race for Eurogroup president (expands)

VILNIUS, Jul 07, BNS – Lithuanian Finance Minister Rimantas Sazdius has withdrawn as a candidate for president of the Eurogroup, he told BNS on Monday.

The new president will be elected later in the day.

Spanish Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo has also withdrawn from the race.

"My counterpart Carlos Cuerpo has just announced that he is withdrawing from the election for the Eurogroup president, so I am also withdrawing," Sadzius told reporters in Brussels on Monday, reiterating his belief that the Eurogroup should work "by consensus".

"I think that we will also be able to elect a president for a new two-and-a-half-year term today by consensus," Sadzius said.

Now, the group's incumbent president, Irish Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe, is the only candidate.

Sadzius told BNS earlier that as Lithuania prepares to take over the rotating EU presidency in the first half of 2027, this post will be useful during this process, especially during the debate on the EU's new multiannual budget.

The Eurogroup chair is tasked with making sure EU countries that use the euro coordinate national financial policies -- a job whose significance was on full show during the 2008 global financial crisis.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Vilnius newsroom

Travelers face checks on Lithuanian-Polish border as Warsaw re-introduces border controls

BUDZISKO, Poland, Jul 07, BNS – Vehicles are randomly stopped and checked on the Lithuanian-Polish border as Poland re-introduces border controls on this border for a month on Monday due to secondary migration.

Many drivers and travelers interviewed by BNS at the Budzisko border checkpoint on the Polish side said they were aware of the checks and planned their travel times accordingly.

There were no huge numbers of vehicles at this checkpoint by midday and there were no major lines on the way out Lithuania.

The checks take place immediately after crossing the border on the Polish side where there is a large car park. Here, the carriageway narrows to one lane and there are signs warning of the checks.

All cars are directed to the car park and undergo an initial check without the driver being asked for documents. After Polish border guards check cars, most of them are allowed to continue their journey.

Some cars, with a greater focus on vans, are diverted by the border guards for document checks and inspection of the load.

Some HGVs are also checked at the roadside, taking an average of three minutes. Once the vehicle is the parking lot, the checks take a few more minutes. A passenger bus was also stopped, but borer guards only checked the driver's documents.

When a BNS reporter and a photographer arrived at the border crossing point at around 9 a.m., two Polish police and seven border guards were working at the checkpoint, and documents were checked in a container room.

"We heard they are stopping cars because of refugees from Latvia, we heard things from media reports. They asked us for our ID documents, and we have been standing here for maybe ten minutes. They haven't checked the car yet, maybe they will do it later," Darius Klapatauskas, 55, who works in the chemical industry, told BNS.

He refrained from commenting on whether such measures were necessary and noted that it would be unpleasant if the checks lasted more than half an hour and was not known in advance.

"If it takes a short period of time, it's no big deal. But if it takes longer, of course it is unpleasant. 10-15 minutes is fine, but if it's more than half an hour... Of course, if it was a surprise, it would be unpleasant again, but since we had heard something, we were ready, we left a little earlier," the man said.

A 47-year-old Polish man working in Finland, driving a ban with Finnish registration plates, who only gave his name as Lukas, said that border guards were checking every car, adding that he was aware that the reintroduced checks were linked to the immigration problem, but said that more attention should be paid to Poland's southern border.

"Maybe not from this side (there is no migration problem - BNS), it would be better to check the southern border. Lithuania is a normal country, probably nobody is accepting migrants from here," he said.

Auris, 50, a car repairer in his 50s, said he had no problem with the Polish side checking vehicles for illegal migrants.

"They can check them, they can check everyone. (...) It's no big deal, it was quick," the driver said.

The Polish Border Guard Service said on X that around 620 people and 400 vehicles were checked at the Lithuanian border from midnight until 7 a.m., and around 350 people and 160 vehicles were checked at the German border.

Polish border guards says checks at 65 checkpoints in Germany and 13 in Lithuania are being carried out without incidents and traffic is moving smoothly.

Just another nonsense

Polish border guards also checked the semi-trailer of the lorry driven by Bronius Kasparas Lelus, 21, looking for illegal migrants.

"Speaking of illegal immigrants, they are doing this mainly because of Latvians, because I have heard that Latvians are taking them. They asked for a passport and load documents, but nothing else. They told me to open the semi-trailer. It took seven minutes, they have not handed over the documents yet, so it remains to be seen how long it will take," the man said.

"Depending on how long they will hold it, if it's really five minutes, it's not too bad, we can stop, there's no problem with that. But if it is longer, of course it is a nuisance," the driver said, adding that checks longer than half an hour or more would cause inconvenience.

"We don't consider these lines"

Erlandas Mikenas, president of Linava, Lithuania's national road carriers' association, also came to Budzisko to assess the situation, and told reporters that "it's actually a relief because the traffic is moving well".

"Even though vehicles stopped for a few minutes create some lines. However, I came from Vilnius and we felt the traffic slow down considerably only on approach to the Kalvarija checkpoint, so we don't consider such lines as lines," Mikenas said.

"In this case, border guards are checking for illegal migrants. As far as I have noticed, HGVs pass in a separate line and they are not stopped. They are randomly stopped, maybe one or another," he noted.

As BNS reported earlier, Lithuaian Interior Minister Vladislav Kondratovic said over the weekend that border controls would be restored for a month, until August 5.

Estonian man detained for allegedly smuggling migrants

Giedrius Misutis, spokesman for the Lithuanian State Border Guard Service, told BNS that, according to initial information, Polish border guards detained an Estonian national at around 10 a.m. on Monday as he was allegedly taking four illegal migrants from Afghanistan.

According to Misutis, the Estonian national was detained at one of the smaller Lithuanian-Polish border crossing points.

The Afghan men had tried to cross the Belarusian-Polish border two months ago but failed to do so, and the Belarusian authorities took them to the Latvian border, from where they tried to re-enter Poland via Lithuania.

Once the procedures are completed, the detained Afghans will be handed over to the Lithuanian side under the readmission procedure.

As BNS reported earlier, Poland temporarily re-introduced border controls on its borders with Germany and Lithuania on July 7 to stop illegal migration from Belarus. Checks are being carried out at 13 locations.

According to data released by the SBGS last week, a total of 352 irregular migrants who entered Latvia from Belarus and then attempted to reach Western Europe via Lithuania and Poland were detained in the first half of 2025.

Compared to the first half of 2024, when 140 such migrants were detained, the flow of irregular secondary migration from Latvia increased by two and a half times in January-June this year.

The influx of irregular migrants into the EU's eastern member states from Belarus began in 2021 and is blamed by the West on the Minsk regime.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Vilnius newsroom

Exit out of Lithuanian smooth as Poland re-introduces border – service

VILNIUS, Jul 07, BNS - There are no traffic jams when exiting Lithuania in the Polish direction as Warsaw re-introduces border controls on Monday, Lithuania's State Border Guard Service says.

Giedrius Misutis, spokesman for the SBGS, told BNS on Monday afternoon that if the Poles continue with their current methods of checks, lines are unlikely to form throughout the next month when the restored controls will be in force.

"There are no lines anywhere, the situation is the same all day long. The traffic out of Lithuania is smooth, and there are no lines, jams, problems, incidents, everything is quite smooth on our side," he said. "This means that there are no lines on the Polish side either."

Asked whether traffic jams could be possible later this month, Misutis said that it was theoretically possible, adding, however, that the situation should remain calm.

"The first day shows that the Poles are really in control of the situation, that they are fulfilling the objectives they have set themselves - to identify potentially risky vehicles - and that is what they are doing, with that methodology, with that scope, and that is not creating any problems when leaving Lithuania," Misutis said.

As BNS reported earlier, Poland temporarily re-introduced border controls on its borders with Germany and Lithuania on July 7 to stop secondary illegal migration from Belarus where migrants try to reach Poland and Germany via Latvia and Lithuania.

By Dominykas Biržietis

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +370 5 205 85 10, Vilnius newsroom

Baltics agree to step up cooperation in preparation for universal defense

VILNIUS, Jul 07, BNS – Defense vice ministers from the three Baltic states agreed in Riga on Monday to strengthen trilateral cooperation, Lithuania's Defense Ministry said today.

Lithuania was represented at the meeting by Vice Minister Tomas Godliauskas.

Given the changing security situation, the meeting highlighted the need to pay more attention not only to military capabilities, but also to civilian defense, the ministry said

The vice ministers agreed to initiate discussions on the development of a universal defense concept at the regional level.

The concept will identify key areas of trilateral cooperation, such as planning and coordinating mobilization, providing host nation support to allies in accordance with existing defense plans and organizing joint mobilization exercises.

The meeting also discussed the need to resume previous joint exercises between the Baltic states on military logistics and host nation support.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +370 5 205 85 10, Vilnius newsroom

Lithuania ready to launch cultural exchange program with Germany – Nauseda

VILNIUS, Jul 07, BNS - Lithuania ready to launch cultural exchange program with Germany, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said as he and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, currently on an official visit to Lithuania, took part in a discussion held on Monday at the Thomas Mann Culture Center in Nida.

"The Lithuanian president emphasized that Lithuania, drawing on a centuries-old tradition, is ready to develop a broad and ambitious cultural exchange program with Germany," the presidential press service said.

During the meeting, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier presented Germany’s national award to Vitalija Teresa Jonusiene, founder and first director of the Thomas Mann Culture Center.

Earlier in the day, the Presidents of Lithuania and Germany, together with the First Ladies, visited Klaipeda, where they explored several historical and cultural heritage sites.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +370 5 205 85 10, Vilnius newsroom

NATO jets in Baltics scrambled once to identify Russian aircraft

VILNIUS, Jul 7, BNS – NATO's fighter jets policing Baltic airspace were last week scrambled once to identify Russian aircraft violating flight rules, the Lithuanian Defense Ministry said on Monday.

On July 3, NATO jets took off to identify two Russian SU-24M attack aircraft as they were flying in international airspace with their onboard transponders off, without flight plans and were not in contact with the regional flight control center.

The NATO Baltic Air policing mission s conducted from Lithuania and Estonia.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +370 5 205 85 10, Vilnius newsroom

Police launch pre-trial probe after Kaunas mayor hits pedestrian

KAUNAS, Jul 07, BNS – Police in Lithuania's second-largest city of Kaunas have launched a pre-trial probe after Mayor Visvaldas Matijosaitis hit a man at a pedestrian crossing while driving his car on June 30.

The investigation was opened upon receipt of conclusions on the extent of the victim's health impairment, which was found to be minor, police said.

Matijosaitis hit the man at a pedestrian crossing around noon on Monday as he was driving his Rolls-Royce. The mayor sincerely apologized to the pedestrian after the incident and claimed that the incident was caused by a lack of attention and a lack of horizontal markings on the newly laid asphalt. The mayor said that he was driving slowly enough but did not see the pedestrian when changing lanes.

In the winter of 2018, Matijosaitis also hit and injured a pedestrian while driving his car.

The mayor’s car then knocked down an 80-year-old man near the crosswalk in downtown Kaunas, Lithuania's second-largest city. The man sustained minor injuries.

Matijosaitis promised at the time that he would no longer drive during working hours.

In addition, in the fall of 2016, the mayor was involved in an incident when he allegedly failed to yield to a pedestrian crossing the street. A witness then said he saw a man standing on the crossing, leaning against a black car and banging on the bonnet, angry at the driver.

 

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +370 5 239 64 16, Vilnius newsroom