LITHUANIA DAILY NEWS BULLETIN, May 15, 2023

LITHUANIA DAILY NEWS BULLETIN

IN THIS ISSUE:

Lithuanian president signs banking solidarity contribution bill into law
Twenty-six irregular migrants turned away on Lithuania's border with Belarus
Lithuanian formin to meet Japanese counterpart, attend conference in Tokyo
Vilnius-Klaipeda trains halted due to repairs this week
At EU sports council, Lithuania to raise issue of Russians' participation in competitions
Global shifts give boost for ties with Indo-Pacific region – Lithuanian formin
Lithuania reports 10 new COVID-19 cases, no deaths
Latest Delfi/Spinter poll finds increased support for SocDems in Lithuania
Lithuanian parlt speaker off to Rome to seek Italy's support for NATO summit decisions
Vilnius plans to name garden square after Israel
NATO jets in Baltics scrambled twice over Russian aircraft last week
UNESCO tasks Lithuania to draw up Curonian Spit protection plan without Russia
Bolt Drive launches operations in Lithuania's Kaunas
Lithuanian govt to submit 2022 activity report to parlt
Ukrainians distort growing inbound tourism figures in Lithuania – rep (expands)
Man handed jail sentence in Lithuania for stealing Ukraine aid money
Vilnius signs EUR 52 mln contract to buy 91 Skoda trolleybuses
Lithuanian formin, in Japan, calls for reducing dependence on China
Window of change may open in Belarus, opposition must be ready – Lithuania's MEP
Upcoming events in Lithuania for Tuesday, May 16, 2023

Lithuanian president signs banking solidarity contribution bill into law

VILNIUS, May 15, BNS – Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda on Monday signed the temporary banking solidarity contribution bill, adopted by the parliament last Tuesday, into law, the presidential office has confirmed it to BNS.

Such a levy was proposed as banks in Lithuanian are projected to earn more than 1 billion euros in profits this year, which is deemed unexpected as they profit from the European Central Bank's policy of raising interest rates.

Under the new law, the levy will amount to 60 percent of banks' net interest income that exceeds the average of four regular financial years by more than 50 percent.

The levy is expected to raise more than 400 million euros in revenue for the state. The money will be then used for defense and military and civilian transport infrastructure.

By Sniegė Balčiūnaitė

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +370 5 239 64 14, Vilnius newsroom

Twenty-six irregular migrants turned away on Lithuania's border with Belarus

VILNIUS, May 15, BNS – Lithuanian border guards have in the past 24 hours turned away 26 migrants attempting to cross into the country from Belarus illegally, the State Border Guard Service (SBGS) said on Monday morning.

Latvia reported 74 attempts at illegal border crossings on Sunday, and 83 irregular migrants were not allowed into Poland on Saturday, according to the latest available information.

A total of 1,010 irregular migrants have been barred from entering Lithuania from Belarus at non-designated places so far this year. Over 11,200 irregular migrants were turned away in 2022.

Lithuanian border guards have prevented around 20,300 people from crossing in from Belarus since August 3, 2021, when they were given the right to turn away irregular migrants. The number includes repeated attempts by the same people to cross the border.

The SBGS says that illegal migration to Lithuania and the EU is being facilitated by Belarusian officials.

Almost 4,200 irregular migrants crossed into Lithuania from Belarus illegally in 2021. However, the vast majority of them fled Lithuania once they were allowed to move freely.

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

Lithuanian formin to meet Japanese counterpart, attend conference in Tokyo

VILNIUS, May 15, BNS – Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis is leaving for Tokyo on Monday to meet with his Japanese counterpart Yoshimasa Hayashi.

As part of his two-day visit, Landsbergis is also to attend a Munich Leaders Meeting and meet with Japanese Digital Minister Taro Kono, and Hirofumi Nakasone, chairman of Japan-Lithuania Friendship Parliamentary League, and other parliamentarians, the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry said in a press release on Sunday.

Lithuania's top diplomat is also scheduled to meet with "companies of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and present business and investment opportunities in Lithuania", it said.

At the Munich Leaders Meeting, Landsbergis will speak on "Ukraine today might be East Asia tomorrow: How to respond to revisionist challenges".

Amid worsening relations between Vilnius and Beijing due to Lithuania's attention to Taiwan, the foreign minister has called Tokyo the most important partner in Asia.

The statement reflects the Lithuanian government's efforts to seek closer ties with liberal democracies in the Indo-Pacific region.

Landsbergis met with the region's top diplomats during last weekend's EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum in Stockholm.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +370 5 205 85 08, Vilnius newsroom

Vilnius-Klaipeda trains halted due to repairs this week

VILNIUS, May 15, BNS – No trains will run between Vilnius and Klaipeda from Monday through Saturday due to repairs on a bridge, Lietuvos Gelezinkeliai (Lithuanian Railways, LTG) has said.

Trains will only operate between Vilnius and Siauliai on these days.

On the Vilnius-Klaipeda route, trains will run as normal on Sunday, May 21, but will only be available in the early mornings and evenings between May 22 and 25.

Normal train schedules will resume from May 26.

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

At EU sports council, Lithuania to raise issue of Russians' participation in competitions

VILNIUS, May 15, BNS – At Lithuania's initiative, EU sports ministers on Monday are expected to discuss Ukrainian athletes' rights and Russian and Belarusian athletes' participation in international sports events, the Education, Science and Sport Ministry has said.

At the EU Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council's meeting in Brussels, Lithuania will underline "the importance of ensuring respect for human rights when organizing major international sporting events", it said in a press release.

"The return of representatives of aggressor countries to international sports arenas clearly violates the rights of Ukrainian athletes."

Vilnius calls for the protection of Ukrainian athletes' human rights, for ensuring that their dignity, values and mental health are protected, for the protection of their right to participate in sport without hindrance, and for the respect of the right of athletes from other countries not to compete with the aggressor countries' representatives, according to the press release.

Lithuania will be represented in Monday's meeting by Deputy Education, Science and Sport Minister Linas Obcarskas.

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

Global shifts give boost for ties with Indo-Pacific region – Lithuanian formin

VILNIUS, May 15, BNS – Geopolitical changes in the world give a boost to bolster the EU's and NATO's partnership with the Indo-Pacific region, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis has said after meeting with the region's officials.

Landsbergis met with Fiji's deputy prime minister and the foreign ministers of Singapore, India and Indonesia at Saturday's EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum in Stockholm.

"Global geopolitical shifts give impetus to strengthen the partnership of both the EU and NATO with the Indo-Pacific region," Lithuania's top diplomat told India's Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

"The establishment of the Indian embassy to Lithuania is a boost for economic, cultural, political and technological cooperation between our countries," he said.

In his meeting with Fiji's Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica, Landsbergis said that "global security depends on Ukraine's victory over Russia and stability in the Indo-Pacific region".

"Despite the distance that divides Fiji and Lithuania, our respect for the international rules-based order unites us," he said.

In his meeting with Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Landsbergis said that "Ukraine's swift victory is only possible through the concerted efforts of the international community.

"This victory will also determine the kind of world we will live in – whether it is based on force or rules," he said.

Landsbergis also met with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Lestari Priansari Marsudi to discuss "the impact of Russia's war against Ukraine on geopolitical transformations, the European Union's cooperation with the Indo-Pacific region and opportunities to strengthen bilateral cooperation between Lithuania and Indonesia", according to the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry.

By Ignas Jačauskas

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +370 5 205 85 08, Vilnius newsroom

Lithuania reports 10 new COVID-19 cases, no deaths

VILNIUS, May 15, BNS – Lithuania has recorded ten new coronavirus infections and no deaths from COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, official statistics showed on Monday morning.

The 14-day primary infection rate has edged down to 35.3 cases per 100,000 people, with the seven-day percentage of positive tests at 10.6 percent.

The number of COVID-19 patients in hospitals now stands at 65, including two ICU cases.

The daily number of new coronavirus cases remains well below the peak of over 14,000 reached in early February 2022.

Around 1.19 million people in Lithuania have tested positive with COVID-19 at least once.

Some 69.8 percent of people in the country have received at least one coronavirus vaccine jab so far.

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

Latest Delfi/Spinter poll finds increased support for SocDems in Lithuania

VILNIUS, May 15, BNS – The Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP) continues to top the country's political party rankings, with support for the opposition party rising by around four percentage points in a month, according to the latest Spinter Tyrimai opinion poll published by Delfi on Monday.

The LSDP saw support grow from 12.9 percent in March to 17 percent in April, its best result in the current parliamentary term, according to the news website.

The ruling conservative Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats stayed in second place with 12 percent, almost unchanged from 11.8 percent a month ago.

It was followed by two opposition parties: the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union with 9.9 percent, up from 8.6 percent, and the Democratic Union "For Lithuania" with 7.3 percent, down from 8.2 percent.

Some 7.3 percent of those polled in April said they would vote for the Liberal Movement, a member of the ruling coalition, slightly up from 6.8 percent in March.

Some 20.3 percent of respondents said they would not go to the polls, up from 13.1 percent a month ago, and 7.6 percent were undecided or did not answer the question, down from 15.7 percent.

When asked who they saw as best-suited to be prime minister, 11.9 percent of respondents chose Ingrida Simonyte, the incumbent head of government, compared to 12.2 percent in the previous poll.

MEP Vilija Blinkeviciute, the LSDP leader, came in second with 9.8 percent, up from 7.4 percent.

Further down the list was Saulius Skvernelis, the Democratic Union's leader and a former prime minister, with 7.5 percent (7.8 percent), followed by Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen, the speaker of the parliament and leader of the Liberal Movement, with 5.5 percent (4.3 percent).

When asked about the current government's performance, 62.5 percent of those polled in April gave a negative opinion or rather a negative one (65.9 percent a month ago), and 32.3 percent said their opinion was positive or rather positive (29.1 percent).

In the representative survey commissioned by Delfi, Spinter Tyrimai polled 1,014 people aged 18 to 75 years between April 18 and 27. The results of the poll have an error margin of 3.1 percent.

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

Lithuanian parlt speaker off to Rome to seek Italy's support for NATO summit decisions

VILNIUS, May 15, BNS – Speaker of the Lithuanian Seimas Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen is going to Rome on Monday for a working visit and is scheduled to meet with the leadership of the Italian Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. She will seek Italian colleagues' support for the decisions of the upcoming NATO summit in Vilnius.

"Strong national ties, united decisions and approaches are crucial for Europe at this time. Our meetings planned for this working visit will be aimed at strengthening parliamentary cooperation between Lithuania and Italy, as well as seeking our Italian colleagues' support for the decisions of the NATO summit and agreements on support to Ukraine, as well as further deterrence of Russian aggression," the Lithuanian speaker was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the Seimas press service.

Vilnius will host a NATO summit on July 11-12.

Cmilyte-Nielsen will also address a joint meeting of the Foreign Affairs Committees of the Italian Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, and also meet with members of the Lithuanian community in Italy.

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

Vilnius plans to name garden square after Israel

VILNIUS, May 15, BNS – Vilnius is planning to name an unnamed garden square in the capital's central Naujamiestis neighborhood after Israel.

The decision by the municipal Historical Memory Commission has yet to be approved by the full City Council.

"It was a long process. The Israeli embassy was consulted, the administration looked for a suitable place and finally the decision was made," Kamile Seraite, the future head of the commission, has told BNS.

The garden square is located in Algirdo Street.

"No alternative names were considered, because we looked for a location specifically for Izraelio Skveras," said Seraite.

"I don't remember where the request came from, maybe from the embassy. We consider all the initiatives that come to the commission," she added.

By Augustas Stankevičius

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

NATO jets in Baltics scrambled twice over Russian aircraft last week

VILNIUS, May 15, BNS – NATO's fighter jets policing Baltic airspace were last week scrambled twice to intercept Russian aircraft flying in international airspace over the Baltic Sea in violation of flight rules, the Lithuanian Defense Ministry said on Monday.

Both alert scrambles were conducted on Saturday.

NATO's jets took off to identify two SU-27 fighters flying in international space from Russia's Kaliningrad region and back, and an AN-72 transport plane on its way from mainland Russia to the exclave.

The second alert scramble was carried out over another two SU-27s flying the same route as the previous two.

The AN-72 was the only of the five Russian aircraft to use its onboard transponder and maintain radio communication with the Regional Traffic Control Center. However, like the four SU-27s, it had no pre-filed plan.

The NATO Baltic air policing mission is carried out from air bases in Lithuania and Estonia.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +370 5 205 85 08, Vilnius newsroom

UNESCO tasks Lithuania to draw up Curonian Spit protection plan without Russia

VILNIUS, May 15, BNS - Lithuania will draw up a value protection plan for the Curonian Spit, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, without Russia after the prior requirement for the two countries to jointly prepare such a plan for the entire Baltic Sea peninsula was changed because of the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The UNESCO-required plan is aimed at protecting the region's unique values, Ausra Feser, head of the Curonian Spit National Park authority, told BNS.

"This is our obligation in the UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the plan is an agreement between various institutions on who is responsible for what to ensure the protection of values of universal and exceptional value, including natural formations, cultural heritage, material heritage," she told BNS.

The initial plan also aimed at improving cooperation between Lithuanian and Russian institutions responsible for the protection of the peninsula and concluding joint agreements on future actions. According to Feser, preparations for joint work were in place a few years ago but the war disrupted everything and cooperation has now broken down.

Juste Zavisaite, a UNESCO specialist at the authority, said the decision to end cooperation with Russia's Kurshskaya Kosa National Park, which protects the spit on the Russian side, was not made in Lithuania after the war.

"There were many high-level discussions as we were not the decision makers, the decision was made in response to the current situation. Last year, when the war broke out, cooperation with the Kurshskaya Kosa National Park in Russia was terminated", Zavisaite told BNS.

Having received permission for a separate plan, the Lithuanian authority last week started consultations with market players on the preparation of a management plan.

The Curonian Spit was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000. The Lithuanian authority reports to the organization on the situation in the protected area every six years.

The Curonian Spit is 98 km long, including 52 km in Lithuania.

By Valdas Pryšmantas

Editor: Roma Pakėnienė

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

Bolt Drive launches operations in Lithuania's Kaunas

VILNIUS, May 15, BNS – Bolt, a car sharing platform that has so far been available only in Vilnius, is on Monday expanding to Kaunas, Lithuania's second-largest city, with 100 Bolt Drive cars and plans to have 300 vehicles by the end of the year.

Svajunas Aliukonis, Bolt Drive's operations manager in Lithuania, says the company's plans to launch its services in other cities in the near future.

Bolt Drive services have been available in Vilnius since February, and they were earlier launched in Riga, Tallinn and Lyon.

In Lithuania, Bolt also provides ride-hailing, e-scooter rental and food delivery services.

Two other car-sharing platforms, CityBee and Spark, also operate in Lithuania.

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

Lithuanian govt to submit 2022 activity report to parlt

VILNIUS, May 15, BNS - The Lithuanian government on Monday approved its 2022 activity report that will be submitted to the country's parliament.

The report states that Russia's war on Ukraine last year was the key event that has so far had a long-term impact on Lithuania and will continue to do so in the future.

"Mobilizing the will to confront this existential threat to our country and the necessary resources and capabilities to do so was the government's most important task in 2022," Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte was quoted as saying in the report.

In her words, last year the government accelerated work on upgrading the existing and buying additional weapons, installing military infrastructure for the development of NATO's forward presence forces in the country, as well as strengthening border protection, intelligence, civil and cyber security.

The report also states that geopolitical sensitivities and global economic uncertainties mean that Lithuania's economy will not avoid slowdown this year, which makes the government make adjustments to the government's start-of-term plans.

The report points out that strengthening national security was a key issue last year, with 2.45 percent of GDP allocated to national defense, persistent rotation of US troops until the middle of 2025, and the strengthening of Lithuania's border with Belarus by means of a physical barrier. The report also stresses the importance of energy independence from Russia's energy systems and energy sources.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +370 5 205 85 11, Vilnius newsroom

Ukrainians distort growing inbound tourism figures in Lithuania – rep (expands)

VILNIUS, May 15, BNS – As the latest figures show the number of incoming foreign tourists more than doubled in Lithuania last year, the head of the country's Tourism Association says one should not be overjoyed as the statistics do not reflect the real situation.

According to Milda Plepyte-Rainiene, the statistics are distorted by refugees from Ukraine who are counted as tourists.

"Ukrainians, who are treated as tourists, distort the figures, therefore, we see inbound tourism figures going up, but we can also see those incoming Ukrainians who are probably not coming to Lithuania for recreation purposes," she told a press conference on Monday.

"We would like to see those people eliminated and then we could see the real situation. (...) The figures (on foreign travelers excluding Ukrainians - BNS) are not so nice and encouraging," she added.

It's difficult for Lithuania to attract foreign tourists because tour operators do not have enough funds to attend international tourism exhibitions, Plepyte-Rainiene said, adding that Lithuania's inbound tourism is hampered by poor connectivity with major European airports.

Earlier in the day, the State Data Agency reported that the number of foreigners' overnight stays jumped by 2.3 times to 2.17 million in Lithuania last year, while the number of same-day trips rose by 2.2 times to 2.56 million.

By Goda Vileikytė

Editor: Roma Pakėnienė

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

Man handed jail sentence in Lithuania for stealing Ukraine aid money

VILNIUS, May 15, BNS – A Lithuanian court has handed a prison sentence of two years and three months to a man who stole funds raised for aid to Ukraine and used the money to buy a car, prosecutors said on Monday.

The man, identified by his initials G. M., is a Kaunas resident who has ten convictions, they said in a press release.

Last October, G. M. contacted, via an online messaging platform, a person helping Ukrainian volunteers and promised to buy and deliver 49 truck tires to Ukraine for 18,000 euros raised by the volunteers.

"The accused, by providing false and untrue data, issued an invoice and a receipt for (...) the 18,000 euros belonging to the Ukrainian charity organization, but he failed to purchase the tires and deliver them to Ukraine on the agreed date," the prosecutors said.

He did not return the money either.

It was established that the man used the charity money to buy a BMW car costing 13,000 euros.

According to the prosecutors, most of the embezzled money was returned to the Ukrainian charity during the investigation.

The Kaunas resident was also accused of stealing another car by posing as a buyer.

"About a month later, G. M. found an online advertisement for a BMW RADA 5 GT for sale, contacted the seller, arranged for the car to be inspected, and then drove off in the car," the prosecutors said.

The car was valued at 18,500 euros, according to the press release.

The Kaunas District Court's ruling can be appealed within 20 days.

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

Vilnius signs EUR 52 mln contract to buy 91 Skoda trolleybuses

VILNIUS, May 15, BNS – Vilniaus Viesasis Transportas (Vilnius Public Transport, VVT) has contracted to purchase 91 Skoda 32Tr low-floor trolleybuses from the Czech manufacturer for 52.3 million euros by 2025.

Vilnius City Municipality, VVT and Skoda signed the contract in Vilnius on Monday.

Vilnius Mayor Valdas Benkunskas says that the capital's public transport fleet is being upgraded on such a large scale for the first time ever

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and its partners have provided a loan of 38.23 million euros to VVT to help finance the purchase of the trolleybuses.

The EBRD is lending up to 30.58 million euros of its own funds, with a further 7.65 million euros coming from Taiwan's International Cooperation and Development Fund. VVT has also secured a further 10 million euros under the Climate Change Program.

Darius Aleknavicius, the municipal public transport company's CEO, told BNS that talks are currently underway with the EBRD on the remaining funds.

The first new Skoda trolleybuses, which cost almost 575,000 euros each, are expected to reach the Lithuanian capital in late summer 2024, with the rest to be delivered in the first half of 2025.

This year, VVT will launch another tender for the purchase of 68 three-axle trolleybuses. This will bring the total number of new trolleybuses to 159 by 2026.

By Giedrius Gaidamavičius

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

Lithuanian formin, in Japan, calls for reducing dependence on China

VILNIUS, May 15, BNS – Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, who is visiting Japan this week, on Monday called for assessing threats posed by China and reducing dependence on Beijing.

"Eliminating risks could be the right step for the moment, but we must be prepared for a scenario where, as in the case of Russia, China's trajectory will again leave us with no choice but to distance ourselves," Landsbergis said at the Munich Leaders Meeting.

"We must swiftly adopt measures to combat the economic and political violence that many countries have faced and will face," he said. "We must ensure that the rules-based international order remains fair and attractive to the rest of the world."

Lithuania has learned from its long history of relations with Russia to recognize warning signs, according to the minister.

"But don't we see these signs in today's Asia? However, the problem is usually not about missing the signs. As in Russia, the biggest challenge is to have the will and the courage to act before it's too late," he said.

Lithuania's top diplomat told the conference that to prevent the current aggression from becoming the new norm, Ukraine must win the war, which requires further military assistance from all allies.

"For Ukraine's victory to be sustainable, the only organization that can give it effective security guarantees is NATO. Vilnius is hosting NATO's summit on July 11-12, which is where a path to Ukraine's membership has to be paved," he said.

On the sidelines of the Munich Leaders Meeting, Landsbergis also met with Wolfgang Schmidt, Germany's federal minister for special tasks and head of the Federal Chancellery, with Japanese Digital Minister Taro Kono, and with the foreign ministers of the Philippines and the Maldives.

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

Window of change may open in Belarus, opposition must be ready – Lithuania's MEP

VILNIUS, May 15, BNS – As Belarusian regime leader Alexander Lukashenko's health deteriorates, a window of change may open in Belarus and democratic forces must be ready to take over power, says Lithuanian Social Democrat Juozas Olekas who leads the EP's delegation for relations with Belarus

"Time might come in Belarus when the regime changes and new forces are needed to lead Belarus down the path of democracy. The Belarusian people do not support the regime, they are just oppressed and cannot change it, but if something changes, the democratic forces in Belarus must be ready for both new elections and taking over power," Olekas told reporters at the Lithuanian Seimas on Monday after a meeting with lawmakers and representatives of the Belarusian opposition.

Speaking about possible scenarios related to Lukashenko's health, Olekas noted that if the regime was left without its leader, the situation would change fundamentally. But one should also not forget Russian President Vladimir Putin's factor as he's seeking to maintain his influence, he said.

"We can see very clearly that since 2020, Lukashenko has chosen a very clear path to stay in power, helped by Russia's power, and all the deployment of Russian troops and the shelling of Ukrainian territory from Belarus are just to keep him in power. (...) Of course, Putin would like to have a union state and to maintain his influence on this territory," Olekas said.

Also speaking at the pres conference, Alexander Dobrovolsky, an adviser to Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, said it was necessary to prepare for a situation when the regime would be left without its key leader. The opposition's task, he said, would be to prepare for new elections, to ensure economic stability and to do this by negotiating with people in the government who would understand that Belarus was in crisis and who would be interested in getting out of that crisis.

The situation in Belarus is complicated not only because of the government's legitimacy but also because of the threat to independence, Dobrovolsky said.

"We know that Putin is not going to sit and look at what is going on in Belarus, without doing something against the democratic or European choice of Belarus. Our task is to mobilize people for the protection of our independence to receive support from the international community and to ask our military forces not to be a part of Russian aggression or not to be a part of repressions against protesters because people will protest, if we see that independence is under threat," the advisor said.

Asked what information he had about Lukashenko's health, the Belarusian opposition representative said the true situation is being kept secret even from regime members, adding that the opposition has information that it’s causing dissatisfaction.

Lukashenko felt unwell last week during the Soviet Victory Day celebrations in Moscow. A medical team was called in and he was rushed to Minsk.

Lukashenko has hardly been seen in public since early May and recently visited the presidential clinic. Based on media reports, Lukashenko has endocrine and heart problems. Moreover, professors have reportedly flown in from Moscow to treat Lukashenko.

By Milena Andrukaitytė

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

Upcoming events in Lithuania for Tuesday, May 16, 2023

VILNIUS, May 16, BNS – The following events are scheduled in Lithuania for Tuesday, May 16, 2023:

PRESIDENT Gitanas Nauseda to travel to Reykjavik to attend a European Council meeting

SPEAKER OF THE SEIMAS Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen to pay a visit to Italy.

CULTURE MINISTER Simonas Kairys to attend a meeting of EU culture ministers in Brussels.

JUSTICE MINISTER Ewelina Dobrowolska to attend a reception at the US Embassy at 8 p.m., held to mark the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia.

FOREIGN MINISTER Gabrielius Landsbergis to pay a visit to Japan.

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

May 16 2023

LITHUANIA DAILY NEWS BULLETIN

IN THIS ISSUE:

Upcoming events in Lithuania for Tuesday, April 25, 2023
Fourteen irregular migrants turned away on Lithuania's border with Belarus
Lithuania’s Tripartite Council to open discussion on minimum wage increase in 2024
Lithuanian MPs plan to enshrine in law existing policy of turning away irregular migrants
Lithuania reports 155 new COVID-19 cases, no deaths
Presidential office: electricity system test brings Lithuania closer to Western Europe
US Palantir Technologies to set up regional hub in Vilnius, partners with DefMin
Lithuanian formin says issue 'closed' after China clarifies ambassador's remark
Lithuanian parlt to go back to issue of decriminalizing small amounts of cannabis
New defense plans not yet approved, so 'I'd keep champagne in fridge' – Lithuanian formin
Lithuanian MPs enshrine in law existing policy of turning away irregular migrants
NGOs will ask Lithuanian president to veto amendments on turning away irregular migrants
Lithuanian MPs start voting on raising value threshold for contraband shipments
Lithuanian parlt to debate allowing weapons manufacturers to settle down in FEZs
Lithuania's minimum wage could rise 13 pct to EUR 953 next year – c. bank
Upcoming events in Lithuania for Wednesday, April 26, 2023
Ukraine expects clear time frame for NATO accession – parlt speaker

Upcoming events in Lithuania for Tuesday, April 25, 2023

VILNIUS, Apr 25, BNS – The following events are scheduled in Lithuania for Tuesday, April 25, 2023:

PRESIDENT Gitanas Nauseda to address Baltic Miltech Summit 2023 participants at 9 a.m.

SPEAKER OF THE SEIMAS Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen, on a working visit to the Czech Republic, to take part, at 9:30 a.m., in the second meeting on the EU's role in global cooperation among democracies, and EU member states' dependence on totalitarian regimes.

THE SEIMAS to hold plenary sittings at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

PRIME MINISTER Ingrida Simonyte to meet with Nasdaq CEO Adena Friedman at 1 p.m.

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

Fourteen irregular migrants turned away on Lithuania's border with Belarus

VILNIUS, Apr 25, BNS – Lithuanian border guards have in the past 24 hours turned away 14 migrants attempting to cross into the country from Belarus illegally, the State Border Guard Service (SBGS) said on Tuesday morning.

Latvia reported 28 attempts at illegal border crossings on Monday, and 61 irregular migrants were not allowed into Poland on Sunday, according to the latest available information.

A total of 893 irregular migrants have been barred from entering Lithuania from Belarus at non-designated places so far this year. Over 11,200 irregular migrants were turned away in 2022.

Lithuanian border guards have prevented around 20,200 people from crossing in from Belarus since August 3, 2021, when they were given the right to turn away irregular migrants. The number includes repeated attempts by the same people to cross the border.

The SBGS says that illegal migration to Lithuania and the EU is being facilitated by Belarusian officials.

Almost 4,200 irregular migrants crossed into Lithuania from Belarus illegally in 2021. However, the vast majority of them fled Lithuania once they were allowed to move freely.

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

Lithuania’s Tripartite Council to open discussion on minimum wage increase in 2024

VILNIUS, Apr 25, BNS – Lithuania's Tripartite Council representing the country's government, employers and employees, will on Tuesday open discussion on the increasing of the minimum wage in 2024.

According to Vytautas Silinskas, Deputy Minister of Social Security and Labor chairing the Council, experts from the Bank of Lithuania have been invited to attend the meeting of the Council to present the central bank’s estimates concerning potential minimum wage increases.

The Tripartite Council has agreed that the minimum monthly wage should stand at 45-50 percent of the average salary, and the specific ratio should be equal to the three-year average ratio of one-fourths of EU member states with the largest ratios between the average salary and the minimum wage.

Inga Ruginiene, president of the Lithuanian Trade Union Confederation, stated on the eve of the Council’s meeting that the ratio between the minimum wage and the average salary should be at least 50 percent next year.

Meanwhile, Ricardas Sartatavicius, head of the Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists, said he would propose to the Council to change the minimum wage formula in the first place by adding labor productivity to the calculations.

This year, Lithuania’s minimum monthly wage stands at 840 euros.

By Erika Alonderytė-Kazlauskė

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +370 5 205 85 11, Vilnius newsroom

Lithuanian MPs plan to enshrine in law existing policy of turning away irregular migrants

VILNIUS, Apr 25, BNS – The Seimas of Lithuania will on Tuesday vote on enshrining in law the existing policy of turning away irregular migrants at the border under a state-level extreme situation regime or a state of emergency.

This will be the final vote on the adoption of the proposed legislative amendments.

Drafted by the Ministry of the Interior, the proposed amendments to the Law on the State Border and the Guard Thereof would consolidate the existing practice of turning away migrants at the border, which was initially carried out on the basis of the interior minister's order issued in 2021 and was later formalized by a respective resolution of the government.

The amendments have drawn criticism from human rights organizations, which say that the legislation would legitimize expulsions, a practice that violates international law.

Amnesty International said last week that the law would "green-light torture".

Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry, the initiator of the bill, says that the amendments make a clear distinction between natural migration and the instrumentalized migration facilitated by the Belarusian regime and that the legislation is necessary to safeguard Lithuania's national security interests.

The ministry also says that the law puts in place safeguards for vulnerable persons.

The amendments would introduce a possibility to refuse entry to Lithuania during a state-level extreme situation, introduced due to an influx of foreigners, to those foreign nationals who intend to cross or have crossed the state border at places that are not designated for that purpose or at places designated for that purpose but having violated the procedure for crossing the state border.

According to the bill, the provision on turning away people would be applied individually to each foreigner and would not apply in certain cases to ensure the entry or humanitarian access to Lithuania's territory for foreigners fleeing military aggression or persecution.

An assessment of the need for assistance would have to be carried out for foreigners who have not been allowed to enter. If found to be in need, migrants would have to be provided with necessary urgent medical or other assistance.

Also, the proposed amendments would allow turning away irregular migrants only along the border – up to five kilometers inland.

Almost 4,200 irregular migrants crossed into Lithuania from Belarus illegally in 2021. However, the vast majority of them fled Lithuania once they were allowed to move freely.

The State Border Guard Service (SBGS) says that illegal migration to Lithuania and the EU is being facilitated by Belarusian officials.

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

Lithuania reports 155 new COVID-19 cases, no deaths

VILNIUS, Apr 25, BNS – Lithuania has recorded 155 new coronavirus infections and no deaths from COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, official statistics showed on Tuesday morning.

The 14-day primary infection rate has edged up to 66.7 cases per 100,000 people, with the seven-day percentage of positive tests at 10.8 percent.

The number of COVID-19 patients in hospitals now stands at 74, including three ICU cases.

The daily number of new coronavirus cases remains well below the peak of over 14,000 reached in early February 2022.

More than 1.18 million people in Lithuania have tested positive with COVID-19 at least once.

Some 69.8 percent of people in the country have received at least one coronavirus vaccine jab so far.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +370 5 205 85 08, Vilnius newsroom

Presidential office: electricity system test brings Lithuania closer to Western Europe

VILNIUS, Apr 25, BNS – The presidential office commends the isolated operation test of Lithuania’s electricity system performed by the country’s electricity transmission system operator Litgrid on Saturday, as it brings closer the synchronization of national electricity grids with the Western European system, Jaroslav Neverovic, presidential adviser on environment and infrastructure, has said.

“We do commend the test, which is not just a historic event. This was the first time Lithuania performed such a test, which was successful and its results make us optimistic about our main goal – the synchronization of electricity grids with Western Europe,” he told the Ziniu Radijas news radio on Tuesday.

According to Neverovic, the electricity grids of Lithuania and Poland should operate synchronously as early as next year.

“We should probably speed up synchronization next year and start operating synchronously with Western Europe, with Poland.”

Neverovic pointed out that the test had demonstrated Lithuania’s ability to meet its electricity needs and ensure the security of its grids.

Speaking about the withdrawal from the post-Soviet BRELL agreement with Russia and Belarus, he mentioned additional works that still had to be carried out not just by Lithuania but also Latvia and Estonia.

The adviser also said that Lithuania was not yet considering withdrawing from BRELL and joining the Western systems on its own as it continued to prioritize the joint synchronization of the Baltic countries even if Lithuania were the only Baltic country technically and politically ready for the move.

Lithuania is eager to step up the process of synchronization with Continental European grids and complete it in 2024 but Latvia and Estonia want to stick to the earlier agreed target date of 2025.

By Valdas Pryšmantas

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

US Palantir Technologies to set up regional hub in Vilnius, partners with DefMin

VILNIUS, Apr 25, BNS – Palantir Technologies, a US-based software and services company, is planning to expand its operations in Lithuania and establish a regional hub of big data competencies in Vilnius, Invest Lithuania said on Tuesday.

The company has entered into a strategic partnership with the Lithuanian Defense Ministry to develop new digital solutions, the government's foreign investment promotion agency said in a press release.

It quoted President Gitanas Nauseda as saying that "developing new high technology oriented foreign investment opportunities as well as creating partnerships to co-create new technological products important for regional security is a win-win policy".

Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas said, "Strengthening Lithuanian expertise in data-driven defense capabilities and becoming a center of excellence within the Baltic States and NATO members will strengthen defense potential and support the development of Lithuania's defense industry and respective ecosystem."

Alexander C. Karp, co-founder and chief executive officer of Palantir Technologies Inc. and chairman of The Palantir Foundation for Defense Policy & International Affairs, said the technical center in Vilnius "will strengthen not only the nation and its Baltic partners, but also the democratic values which they seek to uphold".

Palantir Technologies will hire highly skilled software engineers in Lithuania.

The Defense Ministry "has agreed to give insights on the possible applicability of products to defense areas and further development", according to the press release.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +370 5 205 85 11, Vilnius newsroom

Lithuanian formin says issue 'closed' after China clarifies ambassador's remark

VILNIUS, Apr 25, BNS – Following Beijing's clarification that its ambassador to France expressed his personal view when he questioned the sovereignty of ex-Soviet nations, the issue is now "closed", Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said on Tuesday.

"I think there should be no further continuation. China has officially clarified the ambassador's words, saying that this is his personal opinion. (...) in this case, the issue in closed," Landsbergis told reporters.

"It is, of course, interesting to see quite big differences of opinion in such, I'd say, an experienced diplomatic service," he added. "We had a slightly different idea of free speech in that country, but apparently things do happen."

Lu Shaye, China's ambassador in Paris, said in an interview with France's news channel LCI last Friday that ex-Soviet Union countries "do not have effective status under international law because there is not an international agreement confirming their status as sovereign nations".

The Chinese Foreign Ministry's spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Monday that Beijing respected the "sovereign state status" of all ex-Soviet countries.

Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia on Monday summoned China's diplomats to express their protest over Lu's remark.

The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that "the Chinese ambassador’s remark distorts the history of the Baltic states and other countries".

"The three Baltic states were illegally occupied. A law does not arise from injustice (ex injuria jus non oritur) – this is the principle of international law, according to which the end of the illegal Soviet occupation meant the continuity of the Baltic statehood," it said.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +370 5 205 85 08, Vilnius newsroom

Lithuanian parlt to go back to issue of decriminalizing small amounts of cannabis

VILNIUS, Apr 25, BNS – The Seimas of Lithuania plans to go back to the issue of decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of cannabis and cannabis-based products for personal use.

Initially, the parliament intended to discuss the proposed amendments last Thursday when it was forced to call off its morning sitting due to a malfunction of the IT system of the Seimas Plenary Chamber.

Last December, the Seimas approved after debate a proposal to supplement the Code of Administrative Offences with a provision that the unlawful production, processing, acquisition, possession, transport or dispatch of small quantities of cannabis (its parts), cannabis oil, resin, extracts or tinctures without the intention to distribute them is punishable by a warning or by a fine of between 50 and 300 euros.

Fines of between 300 and 1,000 euros could be imposed for repeated offences. In all cases, the cannabis, its parts, oils, resins, extracts or tinctures would be confiscated.

The health minister would define what quantity of cannabis would be considered as small.

On Tuesday, MPs will review the conclusions drawn by the parliamentary Commission for Ethics and Procedures on the bills decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of cannabis and on procedural compliance with the Statute of the Seimas, and will decide later whether to vote on the said proposal anew.

Lawmakers should also later vote on a proposal to remove possession of small amounts of cannabis from the Criminal Code.

The Freedom Party, part of the ruling coalition, has been the most active proponent of decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of cannabis – an idea opposed by most of the opposition.

Currently, possession of a small quantity of any kind of narcotic drug is punishable by criminal law.

An earlier attempt to decriminalize the acquisition and possession of small amounts of narcotic drugs failed through in the parliament in November 2011.

In 2018, the parliament twice rejected amendments aimed at decriminalizing the possession of small quantities of narcotic drugs.

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

New defense plans not yet approved, so 'I'd keep champagne in fridge' – Lithuanian formin

VILNIUS, Apr 25, BNS – NATO's new defense plans for the Baltic countries have not yet been approved, so it is too early to celebrate, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said on Tuesday.

"We hope that consensus will be reached, because it is not guaranteed yet. Let me remind you that the earlier defense plans stalled for a very long time," he told reporters.

The minister was referring to the situation a few years ago, when Turkey blocked for some time NATO's updated defense plans of the Baltic states and Poland to push for the labeling of Kurdish fighters in northern Syria as terrorist groups.

"I'd probably keep the champagne in the fridge for now," said Landsbergis.

Last week, the minister called the new plans "a significant step forward",

NATO had worked out new defense plans covering the Baltic states and Poland, and has presented them to member states' representatives.

In a reflection of NATO's changing strategy, the plans basically provide for defense from the first days of a potential conflict. Previously, the approach was that the Baltic countries should try to hold off a Russian offensive until allied reinforcements can arrive to help them.

Chief of Defense Lieutenant General Valdemaras Rupsys said on Monday that the new plans were fully in line with Lithuania's expectations.

Rupsys described the plans as "an instruction on how we would deter, how we would fight, when and what military actions we would take (and) how we would react in time and space".

However, Landsbergis said that the plans lacked an element of deterrence.

"We must not forget about deterrence. The deterrent factor is there before the war, so that the plans are not even needed," the minister said.

"The plan does not cover this element, so we urge (NATO) not to forget what was committed to in the Madrid agreements," he added.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +370 5 205 85 08, Vilnius newsroom

Lithuanian MPs enshrine in law existing policy of turning away irregular migrants

VILNIUS, Apr 25, BNS – The Seimas of Lithuania on Tuesday enshrined in law the existing policy of turning away irregular migrants at the border under a state-level extreme situation regime or a state of emergency.

The respective amendments to the Law on the State Border and the Guard Thereof were passed in a vote of 86 to 8 with 20 abstentions. The amendments will enter into force on May 3, if signed by President Gitanas Nauseda.

Drafted by the Ministry of the Interior, the amendments consolidate the existing practice of turning away migrants at the border, which was initially carried out on the basis of the interior minister's order issued in 2021 and was later formalized by a respective resolution of the government.

The amendments stipulate that the government, acting on a proposal from the National Security Commission, may adopt a decision refusing entry to Lithuania during a state-level extreme situation, introduced due to an influx of foreigners, to those foreign nationals who intend to cross or have crossed the state border at places that are not designated for that purpose or at places designated for that purpose but having violated the procedure for crossing the state border.

This provision will be applied individually to each foreigner.

The amendments have drawn criticism from human rights organizations, which say that the legislation would legitimize expulsions, a practice that violates international law.

Amnesty International said last week that the law would "green-light torture".

Laurynas Kasciunas, chairman of the parliamentary Committee on National Security and Defense, told MPs that the policy of turning away irregular migrants had proved to be effective and stressed, in a comment echoed by Interior Minister Agne Bilotaite, that there were no alternatives to this policy, in view of irregular migration orchestrated by the Belarusian regime.

The amendments allow turning away irregular migrants only along the border – up to five kilometers inland, which was a compromise provision introduced during discussions at parliamentary committees.

In addition, the amendments provide for exemptions to refusing entry, which include inter alia the entry or humanitarian access to Lithuania's territory for foreigners fleeing not just military aggression but also other threats, such as armed conflicts or persecution.

Almost 4,200 irregular migrants crossed into Lithuania from Belarus illegally in 2021. However, the vast majority of them fled Lithuania once they were allowed to move freely.

The State Border Guard Service (SBGS) says that illegal migration to Lithuania and the EU is being facilitated by Belarusian officials.

By Milena Andrukaitytė

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

NGOs will ask Lithuanian president to veto amendments on turning away irregular migrants

VILNIUS, Apr 25, BNS – The policy of turning away irregular migrants, enshrined in law by the Seimas on Tuesday, is immoral, Jurate Juskaite, director of the Lithuanian Centre for Human Rights, has said adding that the center, together with other non-governmental organizations (NGOs), will ask the president to veto respective legislative amendments.

“In our view, these amendments contradict both international law and our own commitments. They are immoral and pose a threat to the life and health of individuals who attempt to cross irregularly into Lithuania and seek asylum,” Juskaite told BNS.

“Together with other non-governmental organizations and academics, we will ask President Gitanas Nauseda to veto these amendments and perhaps the president will listen to our arguments,” she added.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Seimas of Lithuania enshrined in law the existing policy of turning away irregular migrants at the border under a state-level extreme situation regime or a state of emergency.

The amendments to the Law on the State Border and the Guard Thereof stipulate that the government, acting on a proposal from the National Security Commission, may adopt a decision refusing entry to Lithuania during a state-level extreme situation, introduced due to an influx of foreigners, to those foreign nationals who intend to cross or have crossed the state border at places that are not designated for that purpose or at places designated for that purpose but having violated the procedure for crossing the state border.

Juskaite warned that with such legal regulation Lithuania would find itself in a position where “we will risk violating international law”, which could lead to litigation in international courts.

“We view the presidential office as a certain institution of last resort whose word will be decisive,” she added.

The ministry also says that the law puts in place safeguards for vulnerable persons.

Nonetheless, the amendments have drawn criticism from human rights organizations, which say that the legislation would legitimize expulsions, a practice that violates international law.

Amnesty International said last week that the law would "green-light torture".

Lithuania started turning away migrants at the border with Belarus on the basis of the interior minister's order issued in August 2021. Later, the practice was formalized by a respective government resolution.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +370 645 093 86, Vilnius newsroom

Lithuanian MPs start voting on raising value threshold for contraband shipments

VILNIUS, Apr 25, BNS – The Lithuanian parliament on Tuesday started voting on amendments to the Criminal Code that call for quadrupling the value of contraband shipments subject to the most severe penalty for the offence.

However, the Seimas decided to send the draft amendments back to the parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs after approving a broader definition of the family in the context of criminal offences.

In addition to the perpetrator's spouse, children and siblings, his or her family members will now include the spouse's children and siblings.

The draft amendments to the Criminal Code provide for changing the level of seriousness of crimes depending on which different penalties are imposed.

Currently, the lightest penalty – a fine or imprisonment of up to four years – can be imposed for smuggling goods worth between 150 and 250 amounts of minimum standard of living (MSL), or between 7,500 and 12,500 euros.

It is proposed to raise the upper limit to 400 MSL, or 20,000 euros.

Justice Minister Ewelina Dobrowolska acknowledges that the amendments, if passed, will allow a dozen people convicted of large-scale smuggling to ask for their sentences to be commuted.

The bill also provides for greater differentiation of punishment. Smuggling of goods worth 400-900 MSL (20,000-45,000 euros) would be punishable by a fine or imprisonment of up to six years, and smuggling of goods worth over 900 MSL would be punishable by up to eight years in prison.

Under the current Criminal Code, those who carry larger amounts of contraband, that is, worth over 250 MSL, may face a fine or imprisonment for up to eight years.

The penalties for fraud, embezzlement, undeclared items, and the illegal non-export of goods or products from Lithuania are to be amended accordingly.

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

Lithuanian parlt to debate allowing weapons manufacturers to settle down in FEZs

VILNIUS, Apr 25, BNS – The Seimas of Lithuania will debate a proposal to allow domestic and foreign defense industry companies to develop technologies and produce various armaments in the country’s free economic zones (FEZs) offering various incentives, including tax incentives, to their residents.

On Tuesday, the parliament agreed to proceed with the debate on amendments to the Law on the Fundamentals of Free Economic Zones in a vote of 101 to zero with six abstentions.

“We want to remove obstacles for Lithuanian manufacturers to develop here the technologies used in the defense industry,” Economy and Innovation Minister Ausrine Armonaite told MPs before the vote.

Draft amendments propose to remove the activities related to ensuring state security and defense as well as to production, keeping or sale of arms, ammunition or explosives, from the list of activities prohibited and/or restricted in free economic zones.

The proposed amendments will now be debated in May.

The said activities have been prohibited in FEZs since 1995.

By Sniegė Balčiūnaitė

Editor: Roma Pakėnienė

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +370 5 239 64 14, Vilnius newsroom

Lithuania's minimum wage could rise 13 pct to EUR 953 next year – c. bank

VILNIUS, Apr 25, BNS – Lithuania's central bank estimates that the minimum monthly wage in the country could rise by 113 euros, or 13.4 percent, to 952.84 euros next year, from 840 euros currently.

"If a decision were to be taken here and now, we would not see any major risks that would prevent the minimum wage from being raised by the amount," Aurelijus Dabusinskas, head of the central bank's Economy Department, said at Tuesday's meeting of the Tripartite Council.

Based on the Finance Ministry's average wage forecast for March, the ratio of the minimum wage to the average wage should amount to 46.3 percent this year, the official noted.

"The target level for 2023 was to be 50 percent; the decision was to temporarily deviate from that formula," he said.

The Tripartite Council, which brings together the government, employers and trade unions, has agreed that the minimum monthly wage should amount to 45-50 percent of the average salary.

However, the specific ratio should correspond to the three-year average ratio of one-fourths of EU member states with the largest ratios of the average salary to the minimum wage.

Deputy Economy and Innovation Minister Ieva Valeskaite said that the rations in the other two Baltic countries should also be taken into account when calculating Lithuania's minimum wage.

Deputy Finance Minister Gediminas Norkunas said that the central bank's proposed 13.4 percent increase in the minimum wage is significant and has yet to be considered by the government.

By Erika Alonderytė-Kazlauskė

Editor: Roma Pakėnienė

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +370 5 205 85 11, Vilnius newsroom

Upcoming events in Lithuania for Wednesday, April 26, 2023

VILNIUS, Apr 25, BNS – The following events are scheduled in Lithuania for Wednesday, April 26, 2023:

PRESIDENT Gitanas Nauseda to pay a working visit to Berlin.

THE CABINET to hold its regular meeting at 1 p.m.

DEFENSE MINISTER Arvydas Anusauskas to attend a meeting of Bucharest Nine (B9) defense ministers in Warsaw.

FOREIGN MINISTER Gabrielius Landsbergis to pay a visit to Moldova together with his counterparts from other Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8) countries.

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

Ukraine expects clear time frame for NATO accession – parlt speaker

VILNIUS, Apr 25, BNS – Ukraine expects that NATO will set a clear time frame for its accession to the Alliance at July's summit in Vilnius and that talks on the country's EU membership will start this year, Ruslan Stefanchuk, chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, said on Tuesday after meeting with his Lithuanian counterpart, Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen, in the Czech Republic.

"Ukraine strongly expects that negotiations on our full EU membership will begin this year," Stefanchuk posted on Facebook after the meeting.

"Ukraine has high expectations for the NATO summit in Vilnius. Its most important outcome should be the definition of the Alliance's vision and a clear time frame for Ukraine's accession to NATO," he wrote.

The chairman of the Verkhovna Rada said he had personally thanked the speaker of the Seimas for the Lithuanian parliament's "resolution on our earliest possible membership of NATO".

He also thanked Lithuania for its continuous and comprehensive support to Ukraine.

Cmilyte-Nielsen this week took part in the Conference of Speakers of the European Union Parliaments in Prague.

In her speech, she called on the West to support Ukraine's EU membership bid and to continue both political and military support for the country

Lithuania seeks that the Vilnius summit offer Ukraine an invitation to join the Alliance. In a resolution, the Seimas has named this as one of Lithuania's key goals for the summit.

However, the country's officials conducting negotiations have more modest ambitions. They propose that Kyiv's integration into NATO should be carried out gradually in individual areas, recognizing the Allies' possible skepticism about inviting the country at war to join the Alliance.

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

Apr 28 2023

Upcoming events

There are no up-coming events

Our Gallery