LITHUANIA DAILY NEWS BULLETIN

 

IN THIS ISSUE:

 

1. ADVISORY: Update of BNS homepage and news portal for subscribers
2. Upcoming events in Lithuania for Thursday, May 30, 2024
3. Lithuania records no illegal border crossings from Belarus
4. Lithuanian formin to discuss Washington summit with NATO counterparts in Prague
5. Proposal to extend bank solidarity levy to be presented to Lithuanian parliament
6. Lithuanian president's NATO procurement veto to be presented to parliament
7. EU ministers to decide on increased tariffs on Russian, Belarusian grain
8. Alcohol, tobacco consumption down in Lithuania
9. Natural gas prices for Lithuanian households to remain unchanged in H1
10. Kacinskas proposed for Lithuania's ambassador to Czech Republic
11. Lithuanian defmin off to Singapore to attend security forum
12. Minsk-linked Lithuanian co to produce new passports for Belarusian opposition (media)
13. Lithuania to set up special agency for migrant reception, accommodation
14. Lithuanian agrimin calls on EU to ban imports of all Russian agricultural products
15. Lithuanian MPs to debate both government, opposition proposals on bank solidarity levy  (updates)
16. Four suspected in Lithuania's probe into Viciunai Group's exports to Russia  (media)
17. BaltCap's lawsuit against Interactive Brokers to be heard in Lithuania behind closed doors
18. Stasys Eidrigevicius' Stasys Museum opens in Lithuania's Panevezys

 

 

ADVISORY: Update of BNS homepage and news portal for subscribers

 

VILNIUS, May 30, BNS – The Baltic News Service will be updating its homepage at www.bns.lt and its news portal for subscribers starting at 8 p.m. on Thursday.

 

We apologize for any inconvenience or technical disruptions.

 

After the relaunch, users will find not only a redesigned webpage but also an enhanced news database with additional features (keywords, saved news, etc.).

 

The same login credentials as before will be used to access the BNS news database.

 

In case of critical technical issues, the current BNS homepage and news portal will be available at old.bns.lt for some time until the new platform is fixed.

 

If you have any questions, feedback, or access issues, please do not hesitate to contact us at (8 5) 205 85 01 or +370 698 34529, or via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

 

 

 

 

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Upcoming events in Lithuania for Thursday, May 30, 2024

 

VILNIUS, May 30, BNS – The following events are scheduled in Lithuania for Thursday, May 30, 2024.

 

PRIME MINISTER Ingrida Simonyte to continue her visit to Singapore.

 

FOREIGN MINISTER Gabrielius Landsbergis to pay a working visit to Prague, to attend a meeting of NATO foreign ministers.

 

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Lithuania records no illegal border crossings from Belarus

 

VILNIUS, May 30, BNS – Wednesday marked yet another day of no recorded attempts to cross into Lithuania from Belarus illegally, the State Border Guard Service (SBGS) said on Thursday morning.

 

Latvia did not report any attempts at illegal border crossings on Wednesday either. Some 177 irregular migrants were not allowed into Poland on Tuesday, according to the latest available information.

 

A total of 217 irregular migrants have been barred from entering Lithuania from Belarus at non-designated places so far this year.

 

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

 

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.

 

Lithuanian border guards have prevented a total of almost 22,000 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.

 

 

 

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Lithuanian formin to discuss Washington summit with NATO counterparts in Prague

 

VILNIUS, May 30, BNS – Lithuania's top diplomat Gabrielius Landsbergis is taking part in an informal meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Prague on Thursday and Friday.

 

The meeting will focus on preparations for NATO's summit in Washington, D.C. on July 9-11, the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry has said.

 

Ministers will also discuss the Alliance's long-term practical and political support to Kyiv and Ukraine's path towards NATO membership.

 

At their summit in Vilnius last July, NATO leaders pledged to invite Ukraine to join the Alliance "when Allies agree and conditions are met".

 

Kyiv previously hoped to receive an invitation to join NATO during the Washington summit, but diplomats say such a decision is almost impossible.

 

A separate Nordic-Baltic ministerial meeting is scheduled in Prague. 

 

 

 

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Proposal to extend bank solidarity levy to be presented to Lithuanian parliament

 

VILNIUS, May 30, BNS – The Lithuanian government's initiative to extend the so-called bank solidarity levy, introduced last year, for another year as an additional source of defense funding is to be presented to the parliament on Thursday.

 

The government will ask the parliament to debate the respective amendments to the Law on Temporary Solidarity Contribution under a fast-track procedure.

 

The levy is expected to raise around 60 million euros in 2025, which Defense Minister Laurynas Kasciunas said on Wednesday could be used to make an advance payment for another medium-range air defense system.  

 

Eivile Cipkute, president of the Association of Lithuanian Banks, which opposes the tax extension, says that banks in Lithuania are already taxed twice as much as other businesses. 

 

The amendments propose that the levy for 2025, just as it is for 2024, should be calculated on the basis of 2019-2022 net interest income. 

 

The levy would continue to be charged on the part of net interest income that exceeds the average of the four years by more than 50 percent.

 

Banks with annual profits of more than 2 million euros currently pay a 20 percent corporate income tax, 5 percentage points higher than other businesses. If approved by the government and the parliament, both rates will increase by 1 point next year, but the revenue will not reach the budget until 2026.  

 

Banks paid more than 250 million euros in solidarity levy for 2023 and may pay around 220 million euros for 2024, according to figures from the central bank.

 

Banks operating in Lithuania doubled their combined net profits in 2023 year-on-year to 986 million euros after the solidarity levy.

 

 

 

Editor: Roma Pakėnienė

 

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Lithuanian president's NATO procurement veto to be presented to parliament

 

VILNIUS, May 30, BNS – A law aimed at clarifying the criteria for issuing declarations of assurance for participation in NATO procurement is to be presented to the Lithuanian parliament for reconsideration on Thursday after it was vetoed by President Gitanas Nauseda.

 

The amendments to the framework law on the issuance of declarations of assurance to legal entities to participate in NATO tenders were adopted by the parliament a couple of weeks ago.

 

However, Nauseda refused to sign them into law, saying that they limit the possibility of banning entities that have violated international sanctions from bidding for NATO contracts.   

 

The president noted that the declaration of assurance is an important document that confirms the financial, technical, professional, and security reliability of a legal entity seeking to participate in NATO tenders.

 

However, the amendments "essentially narrow the grounds on which a declaration of assurance can be withheld from entities that have violated international sanctions", the president's office has said in a press release.

 

Nauseda suggests amending the law to include a condition that a declaration of assurance is issued only if the legal entity seeking to participate in NATO tenders or persons related to it have not been found in violation of international sanctions or restrictive measures in the last three years.

 

The president has said that allowing businesses punished for sanctions violations to bid for NATO contracts could pose a real threat to national security, and therefore the issuance of declarations of assurance cannot be a mere formality. 

 

 

 

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EU ministers to decide on increased tariffs on Russian, Belarusian grain

 

VILNIUS, May 30, BNS – Lithuanian Deputy Foreign Minister Simonas Saunas and his EU counterparts are expected to approve increased import tariffs on Russian and Belarusian grain in Brussels on Thursday.

 

The EU's Foreign Affairs Council (Trade) is to decide on the European Commission's proposal, unveiled in March, to impose increased import tariffs on cereals, oilseeds and grain products, including wheat, maize, sunflower meal, peas and chickpeas.  

 

Many of these imports from Russia are now exempt from any EU import duties. 

 

The Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER) approved the proposal last week. Lithuania and six other member states called on the Commission to prepare a new proposal to increase tariffs on other Russian and Belarusian products. 

 

If endorsed by the European Council, the increased tariffs will come into force on July 1. 

 

European Commission Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis said in March that the tariffs "will de facto prevent imports of Russian and Belorussian products into the EU market, because it will be commercially not viable".

 

Lithuania, along with Latvia, Estonia, Poland and the Czech Republic, back in March urged the EU's executive body to look into the possibility of restricting the import of food products originating in Russia and Belarus into the bloc.

 

The Foreign Affairs Council is also expected to discuss the EU's trade policy and competitiveness, strengthening the bloc's trade links with Africa, reducing Africa's trade dependence on China and Russia, and the follow-up to the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference in February. 

 

 

 

Editor: Roma Pakėnienė

 

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Alcohol, tobacco consumption down in Lithuania

 

VILNIUS, May 30, BNS - One Lithuanian resident aged 15 and over consumed 11 liters of pure (100 percent) alcohol last year, 0.2 liters less than in 2022, according to preliminary data published by the country's State Data Agency.

 

The country's retail and catering companies sold a total of 3.1 million decaliters of vodka, whisky, brandy and other spirits, 0.8 percent less than in 2022, and 4.2 million decaliters of wine and fermented beverages, 4.2 percent less.

 

As in the previous year, beer was the most sold product, with 20.8 million decaliters sold, or 6 percent less.

 

The January 2023 excise duty increase on alcoholic beverages resulted in a 10.6 percent annual increase in prices. 

 

Meanwhile, the average number of legal cigarettes smoked per person aged 15 and over stood at 1,223, a drop of 2.2 percent from 2022. Tobacco prices rose by 6.3 percent, driven by a higher excise duty.

 

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Natural gas prices for Lithuanian households to remain unchanged in H1

 

VILNIUS, May 30, BNS – Natural gas prices for Lithuanian households for the second half of 2024 will remain unchanged from those in April through June. 

 

The unchanged tariffs for Ignitis' consumers for the second half were confirmed by the National Energy Regulatory Council (NERC) on Thursday. 

 

NERC Chairman Renatas Pocius has said recently that gas market prices are currently "more or less predictable and do not fluctuate significantly."

 

Dutch TTF natural gas futures for the third quarter of 2024 to the first quarter of 2025 ranged from 34.6 to 40.2 euros per megawatt-hour (MWh) on Thursday morning.

 

Gas tariffs for Lithuanian consumers are usually set twice a year, from January and July, but this year, they were reduced in April.

 

 

 

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Kacinskas proposed for Lithuania's ambassador to Czech Republic

 

VILNIUS, May 30, BNS - Rolandas Kacinskas, an aide to Speaker of the Lithuanian Seimas Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen on foreign policy issues, has been proposed for the position of the country's ambassador to the Czech Republic.

 

According to a draft government resolution, he should take up his new post on August 20.

 

Kacinskas has served as Lithuanian ambassador to Greece, policy director at the Foreign Ministry and, and in other positions.

 

He would replace Laimonas Talat-Kelpsa who will leave his position on August 19.

 

Darius Jonas Semaska has also been proposed for ambassador to Switzerland, Jonas Grinevicius would represent Lithuania in Ireland and Darius Vitkauskas would work in Switzerland.

 

In Lithuania, ambassadors are appointed and dismissed by the president on the government's nomination and with the approval of the Seimas Committee on Foreign Affairs.

 

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Lithuanian defmin off to Singapore to attend security forum

 

VILNIUS, May 30, BNS – Lithuanian Defense Minister Laurynas Kasciunas is leaving for Singapore to attend the Shangri-la Dialogue 2024 security forum, the Defense Ministry said on Thursday.

 

The largest security forum in the Indo-Pacific region will bring together defense ministers from Asia, Europe, the Americas and other regions of the world to discuss security threats and challenges, the statement reads.

 

On the sidelines of the forum, Kasciunas is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with the defense ministers and their representatives from Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines and Singapore to discuss the regional security situation, the possibilities and development of bilateral cooperation in the field of defense and other topical issues.  

 

"We understand that security in the Indo-Pacific region can have a direct impact on security in the Euro-Atlantic area, so we need and are ready to talk with like-minded countries in the Indo-Pacific region to further develop cooperation in the field of security," Kasciunas said.

 

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Minsk-linked Lithuanian co to produce new passports for Belarusian opposition (media)

 

VILNIUS, May 30, BNS - Garsu Pasaulis, a Lithuanian company that used to have links with an oligarch close to the Minsk regime, will produce alternative passports designed by the Belarusian opposition, the Lithuanian 15min.lt news website reports on Thursday.

 

This company was proposed by a Belarusian who used to work for the interior system in Minsk. Mikita Zabuga, a Belarusian citizen who has asylum in Lithuania, suggested that the Belarusian opposition should work with Garsu Pasaulis, the news website writes.

 

Zabuga, one of the people behind the new Belarusian passport idea and a member of a culture society of Belarusian in Lithuania, used to work for in the interior system in Minsk, was offered ato wok for the Belarusian KGB, and owned shares in companies linked to the Astavyets nuclear power plant.

 

As previously reported by 15min, in 2011, the company that owned Garsu Pasaulis and Golograficheskaya Industriya, a hologram maker with a monopoly in Belarus, set up a joint company in Lithuania, GP Holographics, and t supplied Garsu Pasaulis with holographic film used in the production of third party documents.

 

Viktor Shevtsov, dubbed as Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenk's "wallet", is one of the shareholders of Golograficheskaya Industriya.

 

Ana Janauskiene, head of Garsu Pasaulis, told 15min that all ties with GP Holographics were severed in 2022 after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.

 

15min found that, Garsu Pasaulis sold its shares in GP Holographics to Shevtsov via an intermediary. Nevertheless, Garsu Pasaulis and GP Holographics still share the same address in Vilnius and the same administrator and accountant.

 

Shevtsov now owns 70 percent of GP Holographics. Another 10 percent belong to Golograficheskaya Industriya and its CEO Alexander Babarenko has a 15 percent stake.

 

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Lithuania to set up special agency for migrant reception, accommodation

 

VILNIUS, May 30, BNS – Lithuania is set to establish a new agency to handle the reception and accommodation of migrants. 

 

The parliament on Thursday passed the respective amendments to the Law on the Legal Status of Aliens with 96 votes in favor, one against, and nine abstentions. 

 

The new agency will provide social, accommodation, and other essential services to asylum seekers, foreign nationals granted asylum in Lithuania, and irregular migrants pending their expulsion.

 

The new agency will be subordinate to the Social Security and Labor Ministry and will include the Refugee Reception Center currently located in Rukla, in the central district of Jonava, and the Naujininkai refugee reception camp in Vilnius.

 

According to Interior Minister Agne Bilotaite, the new arrangement will relieve border guards of the responsibility for migrants' living conditions.

 

The agency will serve as a one-stop shop for legal, social, health, and other essential services to migrants.

 

"It is very important that with the new institution and a team of qualified specialists, we will be able to ensure humane reception conditions and human rights for foreigners," Bilotaite said.

 

The influx of irregular migrants to Lithuania, Latvia and Poland from Belarus began in 2021 and is blamed by the West on the Minsk regime.

 

Almost 4,200 irregular migrants crossed into Lithuania from Belarus illegally in 2021. Camps had to be set up and heated facilities found to accommodate them.

 

The vast majority of the migrants left Lithuania once they were allowed to move freely.

 

 

 

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Lithuanian agrimin calls on EU to ban imports of all Russian agricultural products

 

VILNIUS, May 30, BNS – The EU must ban all agricultural products from Russia and Belarus, Lithuanian Agriculture Minister Kestutis Navickas says after Brussels finally decided to impose higher import duties on Russian and Belarusian grain.

 

"Russian and Belarusian products compete unfairly with the products produced by EU farmers. But more importantly, by selling food products on the EU market, Russia is making billions to finance its war in Ukraine," Navickas said in a statement on Thursday.

 

Russia and Belarus have so far been profiting from more than just grain sales on the EU market, he said, as the EU imported 2.7 billion euro worth of agricultural and food products from Russia in 2023, 2 percent more than in 2021. Grain accounts for around half of this amount.

 

Navickas has previously said that Brussels' import duties on Russian and Belarusian grain would effectively mean a ban on their import into the bloc. 

 

EU ministers agreed on Thursday to impose maximum duties on imports of grain from Russia from July 1, which has so far been largely exempt from tariffs. 

 

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Lithuanian MPs to debate both government, opposition proposals on bank solidarity levy  (updates)

 

VILNIUS, May 30, BNS – The Lithuanian parliament on Thursday agreed to debate bank solidarity levy proposals from both the government and the opposition, meaning that MPs will have to decide whether the tax will be collected for one more year or made permanent.

 

Finance Minister Gintare Skaiste says the exceptional situation in the banking market will likely continue for at least another year.

 

"We believe that the peak in bank interest rates has now been reached. The European Central Bank is likely to start cutting interest rates in June," the minister told the parliament while presenting the amendments tabled by the government. 

 

"This means that we can expect interest rates to stabilize in the second half of next year. This means that banks' profits from net interest income will fall," she added. 

 

MP Lukas Savickas of the opposition Democrats "For Lithuania" says that the levy calculation formula inherently implies its temporary nature, because it is applicable only under exceptional conditions linked to temporary profits from exceptionally high interest rates.

 

"Let's pass this bill and always have a tool ready to catch those temporary profit situations that fall out of the sky for banks, which would allow us to apply this tax without debate," he said while presenting amendments initiated by a group of opposition MPs.  

 

Another proposal, tabled by the opposition political group of non-attached MPs, to extend the solidarity levy for another year, until the end of 2025, also passed the first reading in the Seimas.

 

The parliament is expected to further discuss the bills on June 18. 

 

 

 

 

 

Editor: Roma Pakėnienė

 

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Four suspected in Lithuania's probe into Viciunai Group's exports to Russia  (media)

 

VILNIUS, May 30, BNS – Lithuania's law enforcement authorities investigating the possible export of sanctioned goods to Russia by a company of Viciunai Group, co-owned by Kaunas Mayor Visvaldas Matijosaitis, have identified four individuals suspected of violating sanctions, according to the public broadcaster LRT's investigative journalism team. 

 

"Four natural persons have been served with notices of suspicion in the investigation of a possible violation of international sanctions by transporting sanctioned products to Russia," the Prosecutor General's Office informed the LRT Investigation Team in writing on Thursday. 

 

"The investigation is ongoing and all necessary pre-trial investigative actions are being performed," it added.

 

According to LRT, the prosecutors did not disclose whether the suspects include Viciunai Group' shareholders or senior executives, citing as the reason the need to ensure "a balance between the right to private life and other rights" of the individuals involved in the investigation. 

 

The pre-trial investigation was launched on April 11 amid suspicions that Viciunai Group's company Plunges Kooperatine Prekyba had shipped sanctioned goods to Russia.

 

The LRT Investigation Team reported in early April that Plunges Kooperatine Prekyba had shipped dual-use goods to Russia at least 11 times since the start of the war in Ukraine, and five times after the specific codes for these goods were added to the EU sanctions lists.

 

The company's shipments reportedly included goods on the list of high-priority battlefield items needed for arms production, such as bearings used by Russia to manufacture tanks, as well as other dual-use items.

 

The recipient of all the goods was Viciunai-Rus, the group's factory in Sovetsk, a town in Russia's Kaliningrad exclave. 

 

Matijosaitis and his business partner Liudas Skierus each hold 50 percent of shares in VG Holding, the owner of Viciunai Group. 

 

 

 

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BaltCap's lawsuit against Interactive Brokers to be heard in Lithuania behind closed doors

 

VILNIUS, May 30, BNS - Interactive Brokers Central Europe, a Hungarian-based US securities trading platform, has failed in its bid to get the lawsuit filed by investment fund BaltCap's companies trying to recover millions of euros embezzled by Sarunas Stepukonis, a former partner at the BaltCap Infrastructure Fund, heard in Hungary instead of Lithuania. The case will also be heard behind closed doors.

 

Judge Vaclovas Paulikas of Vilnius Regional Court ruled on Wednesday that Lithuanian courts have jurisdiction over the case and rejected Interactive Brokers Central Europe's request to keep the lawsuit pending, Lina Nemeikaite, spokeswoman for the court, told BNS. 

 

The ruling can be appealed to the Court of Appeal within seven days. 

 

The first closed-door court hearing is scheduled for August 28.

 

Lithuania's Zvirgzdaiciu Energija and Nullus, as well as Polands En Efficiency, filed a lawsuit in February, seeking 5.485 million eurosin damages from Stepukonis and Interactive Brokers. In February, a court temporarily seized Stepukonis' assets worth this amount and banned him from accessing his accounts.

 

In April, Vilnius Regional Court once again ruled that another lawsuit brought by the BaltCap Infrastructure Fund companies for the return of tens of millions of euros gambled away by Stepukonis must be heard in Lithuania. The lawsuit was filed Lithuanian gambling company Olympic Casino and its Estonian shareholder OB Holding 1 for the return of financial assets worth a total of 26 million euros plus damages.

 

This case will also be heard in Lithuania and not in Estonia as OB Holding 1 had requested.

 

Stepukonis is suspected of embezzling at least 27 million euros from the BaltCap Infrastructure Fund companies, but according to prosecutors, this amount could be higher. BaltCap representatives estimate that around 40 million euros may have disappeared from the fund's companies.

 

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Stasys Eidrigevicius' Stasys Museum opens in Lithuania's Panevezys

 

VILNIUS, May 30, BNS - Stasys Museum, an art center dedicated to painter, graphic artist, writer, book illustrator, author of performances Stasys Eidrigevicius has opened in Lithuania's northern city of Panevezys.

 

According to a statement issued after the opening on Thursday, the museum will exhibit the artist's extensive collection of works and international cooperation projects.

 

The museum will open its doors to the public on Friday.

 

The new museum is located on the site of a former movie theater. The building has four floors and one basement floor, which houses a lobby, art storage, various utility areas and a car park.

 

The 240 square meter modern art storage facility with a humidity- and temperature-control system currently houses approximately 1,200 works of art donated to the museum by Eidrigevicius.

 

On the ground floor of the museum, there will be an information center, a café, a shop and a ticket office.

 

The second floor has a transformable space that can be adapted for various events and conferences, if needed. There is a separate space for educational activities. The third floor is dedicated to a permanent exhibition of Eidrigevicius works. And the fourth floor exhibition hall will host changing exhibitions.

 

Starting Friday, visitors will be able to see the museum's first exhibition ICON-O-STASYS. The exhibition will be changed several times a year and will include paintings, photography, bookplates, posters and sculptures. 

 

Eidrigevicius has held more than 100 international exhibitions and won more than 40 international awards during his lifetime.

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LITHUANIA DAILY NEWS BULLETIN

 

IN THIS ISSUE:

 

1. Upcoming events in Lithuania for Wednesday, May 29, 2024
2. Lithuanian PM heads to Singapore for security conference (updates)
3. SocDem leader Blinkeviciute won't be Lithuanian PM – a Freedom Party leader  
4. Lithuania records no illegal border crossings from Belarus
5. Lithuanian cabinet gives nod to 1-year bank solidarity levy extension 
6. Lithuanian govt to turn to CC over absence of institution of partnerships
7. Bank solidarity levy could fund Lithuanian air defense system procurement – defmin 
8. Lithuania's govt bans imports of over 2,800 products from Russia, Belarus
9. Lithuania to contribute radars to German-led air defense coalition for Ukraine – defmin
10. Shadow economy in Lithuania shrinking at record pace – finance minister 
11. Lithuanian govt OKs tighter rules for gambling industry
12. 'Foreign influence' law turns Georgia away from Europe – Lithuanian president (expands)
13. Shadow economy in Lithuania shrinking at record pace – finance minister (expands)
14. Lithuanian govt backs proposal to terminate another treaty with Russia
15. Freedom Party MP sees Simonyte as a candidate for Lithuania's EU commissioner
16. Cyber security situation in Lithuania stable, no future guarantees – defmin
17. Lithuania's Cabinet allocates EUR 5 mln to rebuild schools, kindergartens in Ukraine
18. Lithuanian healthmin urges WHO to invite Taiwan to it assembly as observer
19. Lithuanian ForMin summons Georgian ambassador over 'foreign influence' law
20. German Bundeswehr concludes Exercise Grand Quadriga 2024
21. Upcoming events in Lithuania for Thursday, May 30, 2024

 

 

Upcoming events in Lithuania for Wednesday, May 29, 2024

 

VILNIUS, May 29, BNS – The following events are scheduled in Lithuania for Wednesday, May 29, 2024.

 

PRESIDENT Gitanas Nauseda to attend a commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Olympic movement in Lithuania at 6.30 p.m.

 

SPEAKER OF THE SEIMAS Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen to meet with members of a delegation from Ukraine's Verhkovna Rada at noon.

 

PRIME MINISTER Ingrida Simonyte to leave for Singapore.

 

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Lithuanian PM heads to Singapore for security conference (updates)

 

VILNIUS, May 29, BNS – Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte is leaving for Singapore on Wednesday to attend the Shangri-La Dialogue defense and security conference.

 

Simonyte is also scheduled to meet with Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, as well as with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos.

 

The program of the visit also includes meetings with representatives of Singapore's scientific and business communities, and with the local Lithuanian community.

 

Lithuania opened its embassy to Singapore in late 2023. Vilnius says it sees the island nation as a gateway to entering Southeast Asian markets.

 

On Sunday, Simonyte will head to Berlin to take part in an East German Economic Forum discussion with Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

 

 

 

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SocDem leader Blinkeviciute won't be Lithuanian PM – a Freedom Party leader  

 

VILNIUS, May 29, BNS – MP Vytautas Mitalas, one of the leaders of the ruling Freedom Party, predicts that MEP Vilija Blinkeviciute, chairwoman of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP), will not become prime minister even if her political force wins October's parliamentary elections.

 

"I think that even if the Social Democrats are successful, (...) she will simply not be in the post of head of government," he told the Ziniu Radijas radio station on Wednesday.

 

The opposition Social Democrats top opinion polls and are considered by many observers as favorites to win the parliamentary elections

 

However, Blinkeviciute has not yet said whether she will lead her party in the October 13 elections, promising to announce her decision in mid-June when the list of candidates is to be compiled.

 

Currently, she is standing as a candidate in the European Parliament elections scheduled for June 9.  

 

"A prime minister needs to be an active, capable person who works a lot for the sake of Lithuania," Mitalas said.

 

"Blinkeviciute's best times as a minister or in other positions are already behind her," he added.

 

Mitalas said that he wants the Freedom Party's list to be led by Ausrine Armonaite, the party's chairwoman, adding that decisions on this will be taken in the near future.

 

He urged the leaders of all parties to take up leadership in the run-up to the parliamentary elections.

 

 

 

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Lithuania records no illegal border crossings from Belarus

 

VILNIUS, May 29, BNS – Tuesday marked yet another day of no recorded attempts to cross into Lithuania from Belarus illegally, the State Border Guard Service (SBGS) said on Wednesday morning.

 

Latvia reported three attempts at illegal border crossings on Tuesday, and 226 irregular migrants were not allowed into Poland on Monday, according to the latest available information.

 

A total of 217 irregular migrants have been barred from entering Lithuania from Belarus at non-designated places so far this year.

 

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

 

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.

 

Lithuanian border guards have prevented a total of almost 22,000 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.

 

 

 

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Lithuanian cabinet gives nod to 1-year bank solidarity levy extension 

 

VILNIUS, May 29, BNS – The Lithuanian government on Wednesday approved extending the so-called bank solidarity levy, introduced last year, for another year as an additional source of defense funding, with the final decision to be made by the parliament.

 

The government plans to table the respective amendments to the Law on Temporary Solidarity Contribution to the Seimas on Thursday and will ask the parliament to debate the legislation under a fast-track procedure.

 

The levy for 2025, just as it is for 2024, is proposed to be calculated on the basis of 2019-2022 net interest income and is expected to raise around 60 million euros.

 

The levy would continue to be charged on the part of net interest income that exceeds the average of the four years by more than 50 percent.

 

Eivile Cipkute, president of the Association of Lithuanian Banks, has told BNS recently that politicians are breaking their promise that the levy will be "temporary".

 

According to Cipkute, the actual taxation of banks in Lithuania amounted to about 30 percent last year. Their pre-tax profits totaled around 1.5 billion euros, of which 0.5 billion euros were paid in corporate income and solidarity taxes.

 

Banks operating in Lithuania doubled their combined net profits in 2023 year-on-year to 986 million euros after the solidarity levy.

 

 

 

Editor: Roma Pakėnienė

 

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Lithuanian govt to turn to CC over absence of institution of partnerships

 

VILNIUS, May 29, BNS - The Lithuanian government has decided to turn to the country's Constitutional Court to find out whether the absence of the institution of same-sex partnerships does not run counter to the country's basic law.

 

On Wednesday, ministers approved a draft resolution prepared by the Justice Ministry, asking the Constitutional Court to assess two provisions of the Civil Code and its enacting law.

 

The Court is being asked on the constitutionality of the provision stating that only male-female partnerships are possible, and also on the fact that the Civil Code's chapter regulating the conditions of cohabitation without marriage registration will only come into force once the partnership law is adopted.

 

"The set legal regulation which makes the exercise of the right of unmarried cohabitants to legal recognition and protection of their family life subject to the legislator's discretion is incompatible with the constitutional principles of legitimate expectations and the rule of law," the document reads. "There can be no legal regulation which does not protect the rights of individuals as enshrined in the Constitution, nor does it protect individuals' legitimate expectations arising from the Constitution."

 

Justice Minister Ewelina Dobrowolska has told BNS earlier that the appeal was prepared after taking into account the case law of both Lithuanian courts and the European Court of Human Rights.

 

The resolution underlines that the Constitution enshrines the principle of equality of persons and the prohibition of discrimination, and that the state is also committed by the country's main document to protecting and defending all families, in line with the constitutional concept of family.

 

The Freedom Party, to which Dobrowolska belongs, has been trying to pass a law on the legalization of both same-sex and opposite-sex partnerships since the beginning of this parliament.

 

In May 2023, the Lithuanian parliament gave its initial OK to the civil union bill by a margin of a few votes but it has not submitted the bill for adoption as it may not get enough votes to pass.

 

The civil union bill states that partners in a civil union would be able to have shared assets, but would also have the possibility of signing a separate agreement on the legal regulation of their assets. They would also get inheritance according to law and without inheritance taxes, have the possibility to act on each other's behalf and interests, represent each other in healthcare, and have access to health-related information.

 

Currently in Lithuania, both male-female and same-sex couple cannot register their partnerships.

 

Previous attempts by lawmakers to legalize them have been unsuccessful.

 

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Bank solidarity levy could fund Lithuanian air defense system procurement – defmin 

 

VILNIUS, May 29, BNS – Lithuania could use funds raised from the extended bank solidarity levy to finance its medium-range air defense system procurement, Defense Minister Laurynas Kasciunas said on Wednesday.  

 

"We'll have about 60 million euros. (...) This is an amount that the state can use as an advance payment for another medium-range air defense system," he told a press conference.

 

The minister said that it is not yet clear which system Lithuania would purchase with the money, but added that it could be NASAMS or Iris-T systems.

 

"I welcome the government's decision and I have no doubt that it will be approved by the Seimas," he said.

 

Earlier on Wednesday, the Cabinet approved extending the bank solidarity levy, introduced last year, for another year as an additional source of defense funding, with the final decision to be made by the parliament.

 

The government plans to table the respective amendments to the Law on Temporary Solidarity Contribution to the Seimas on Thursday and will ask the parliament to debate the legislation under a fast-track procedure.

 

The levy for 2025, just as it is for 2024, is proposed to be calculated on the basis of 2019-2022 net interest income and is expected to raise around 60 million euros.

 

Politicians want to boost defense funding to 3 percent of GDP to speed up the establishment of a military division, to host a German brigade, which is expected to be stationed in the country by 2027, and to prepare for universal conscription.

 

 

 

By Vilmantas Venckūnas

 

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Lithuania's govt bans imports of over 2,800 products from Russia, Belarus

 

VILNIUS, May 29, BNS – Lithuania's government on Wednesday approved a specific list of Russian and Belarusian products after the country's parliament banned imports of agricultural products and feed of Russian or Belarusian origin in April.

 

Drafted by the Agriculture Ministry, the list includes more than 2,800 different products.

 

The list includes a total of 24 groups of products: certain live animals, meat and certain meat products, fish and shellfish, milk and milk products, eggs, honey, trees and other plants, bulbs, vegetables, fruits and nuts, coffee, tea, spices, cereals and their products, flour, starch, oils and fats, waxes, sugar, cocoa, non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages, vinegar, animal feed, food industry residues, tobacco and their processed substitutes.

 

The ban on imports of these products will come into force on June 3.

 

Editor: Roma Pakėnienė

 

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Lithuania to contribute radars to German-led air defense coalition for Ukraine – defmin

 

VILNIUS, May 29, BNS – The Lithuanian government on Wednesday approved 13.5 million euros for the purchase of air surveillance radars to contribute to the German-led air defense coalition for Ukraine, Defense Minister Laurynas Kasciunas said on Wednesday.

 

"Today (...) the government allocated 13.5 million euros for the acquisition of radars that will strengthen the warning system in Ukraine. By doing so, we are joining the German-initiated air defense coalition," Kasciunas told reporters. 

 

"They (Germany) have given (Ukraine) their third Patriot system and other systems, so we are contributing what we can in response," he added.

 

According to Kasciunas, the goal this year is to send four radars to Ukraine.

 

"They will enhance warning, visibility, and the ability to destroy aerial targets. (We'll send) four this year, and then we'll continue to purchase radars because Ukraine needs them; they themselves have identified this need," he said.

 

In response to Kyiv's requests, Lithuania has delivered 155 mm ammunition, M577 armored personnel carriers, drone jamming equipment, power generators, cold season gear and tens of thousands of warm clothing sets, Carl Gustaf recoilless rifle rounds, RISE-1 long-range smart initiation systems, a disassembled L-39ZA Albatros light ground attack support aircraft, and other aid to Ukraine so far this year, according to the Defense Ministry. 

 

Lithuania's assistance to Ukraine has reached a billion euros to date, including around 616 million euros in military aid. Assistance worth about 95 million euros has already been provided this year, "a dynamic aimed to become the norm", it has said.

 

 

 

 

 

By Vilmantas Venckūnas

 

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Shadow economy in Lithuania shrinking at record pace – finance minister 

 

VILNIUS, May 29, BNS – The shadow economy, or the share of unpaid value added tax (VAT), in Lithuania is shrinking at a record pace, Finance Minister Gintare Skaiste said on Wednesday. 

 

"The gap – the unpaid share of VAT – has contracted and continues to contract at record rates. This has also been confirmed by the European Commission," she told a press conference.

 

The State Tax Inspectorate (STI) forecasts that the VAT gap will narrow to 11 percent this year, compared to 18.7 percent in 2020, according to Skaiste.  

 

"The shadow economy in Lithuania is shrinking and this is shown by objective figures. These trends probably started a few years ago; we observed VAT gap reduction trends during the previous government's term as well," she said.

 

If the VAT gap in the country had not narrowed and remained at the 2020 level, the state would have lost 600 million euros in budget revenue between 2021 and 2022, the minister added.

 

 

 

By Lukas Juozapaitis

 

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Lithuanian govt OKs tighter rules for gambling industry

 

VILNIUS, May 29, BNS – The Lithuanian government on Wednesday approved tighter rules for the gambling business. They will prevent irresponsible gambling, strengthen the protection of problem gamblers and increase transparency in the sector. 

 

Drafted by the Finance Ministry, the amendments will now go to the parliament for further consideration.

 

The bill proposes that gambling houses (casinos), slot machines, bingo parlors and betting shops should have a qualified staff member who, in case of a suspicion of irresponsibility on the part of a gambler, would offer to stop gambling or would be able to stop the person. 

 

The ministry proposes obliging companies to introduce a remote gambling platform which not only contains general information on the gambler and their transactions, but also allows the Gaming Control Authority to access the platform at any time and check the data.

 

The amendments propose fines of 3-5 percent of a company's gross annual revenue for non-compliance with the rules on gamblers' protection, responsible gambling, permitted advertising and other requirements, rising to 8-10 percent for repeated infringements.

 

The existing fines for a first infringement now range between 6,000 and 25,000 euros, and they double for repeat infringements.

 

The Finance Ministry has previously argued that the existing maximum fine of 50,000 euros is equivalent to the average daily revenue of a gambling company and is therefore not an effective instrument to prevent infringements.

 

The new amendments come in response to the case where Sarunas Stepukonis who embezzled around 40 million euros from several companies owned by BaltCap, an investment company, and gambled most of it away.

 

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'Foreign influence' law turns Georgia away from Europe – Lithuanian president (expands)

 

VILNIUS, May 29, BNS – Tbilisi is turning away from Europe, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda says after the Georgian parliament rejected the president's veto on the controversial "foreign influence" law.

 

"The new law represents a dangerous breaking from the democratic values. It turns the country away from Europe," he posted on X on Tuesday.

 

He underlined, however, that Lithuania will always support a "free and independent" Georgia and its "brave people".

 

"A very sad day for Georgia and the rest of Europe," he wrote.

 

Despite mass protests, the Georgian parliament adopted the so-called "foreign agent" law In mid-May. The law requires NGOs and media outlets that receive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad to register as "foreign agents".

 

The country's President Salome Zourabishvili vetoed the law, but her veto was rejected on Tuesday. The president is required to sign the bill into law within five days. If she fails to do so, the law will be signed by the speaker of the parliament.

 

Critics have condemned the law, saying it is similar to the one in place in Russia, which is being used to silence Moscow's critics. Brussels says the adopted law is incompatible with Georgia's long-standing ambition to become an EU member.

 

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Shadow economy in Lithuania shrinking at record pace – finance minister (expands)

 

VILNIUS, May 29, BNS – The shadow economy, or the share of unpaid value added tax (VAT), in Lithuania is shrinking at a record pace, Finance Minister Gintare Skaiste said on Wednesday. 

 

"The gap – the unpaid share of VAT – has contracted and continues to contract at record rates. This has also been confirmed by the European Commission," she told a press conference.

 

The State Tax Inspectorate (STI) forecasts that the VAT gap, the difference between the VAT due and the actual VAT revenue, will narrow to 11 percent this year, compared to 18.7 percent in 2020, according to Skaiste.  

 

"The shadow economy in Lithuania is shrinking and this is shown by objective figures. These trends probably started a few years ago; we observed VAT gap reduction trends during the previous government's term as well," she said.

 

If the VAT gap in the country had not narrowed and remained at the 2020 level, the state would have lost 600 million euros in budget revenue between 2021 and 2022, the minister added.

 

According to Skaiste, at least 238 million euros in additional budget revenue were "pulled out" of the shadow economy in 2023. 

 

The Finance Ministry cites data from a report by the European Commission's Centre for Socio-Economic Studies (CASE) showing that Lithuania's VAT gap stood at 14.5 percent in 2021 and 13.5 percent in 2022.

 

 

 

Editor: Roma Pakėnienė

 

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Lithuanian govt backs proposal to terminate another treaty with Russia

 

VILNIUS, May 29, BNS – The Lithuanian government on Wednesday backed a proposal to terminate the international treaty with Russia on legal assistance and legal relations in civil, family and criminal cases.

 

According to the Justice Ministry, the treaty was signed in 1992 and ratified by the Supreme Council. The aim of the treaty was to ensure equal protection of the personal and property rights of citizens of both countries and of legal entities operating in their territories, and to develop legal cooperation in the field of legal assistance.

 

Justice Minister Ewelina Dobrowolska says the change in the geopolitical situation – Russia's military aggression against Ukraine – has led to gross violations of the principles of international law, including international humanitarian law, and Lithuania must clearly express its political will and cease cooperation in the field of international relations with the aggressor country.

 

According to the ministry, legal cooperation under this treaty has been "de facto non-existent" for more than two years now, "and requests for legal assistance received by Lithuania from Russia have not been executed", except in cases that are exclusively and directly related to the interests of Lithuanian citizens.

 

Latvia and Estonia have already made political decisions to terminate their similar international treaties with Russia.

 

As the renewal of the treaty with Russia is due to take place on January 21, 2025, the aim is to terminate the treaty as soon as possible, before its automatic renewal for another five years.

 

The treaty should be denounced by the parliament. 

 

This is not the first treaty whose termination has been approved by the Lithuanian Cabinet. Last week, ministers approved the termination of Lithuania's agreements with Russia and Belarus on investment promotion and protection, as well as on trade and economic relations.

 

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Freedom Party MP sees Simonyte as a candidate for Lithuania's EU commissioner

 

VILNIUS, May 29, BNS – MP Vytautas Mitalas, vice-chairman of the Freedom Party, the conservatives' ruling coalition partner, sees Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte as a potential candidate to become Lithuania's next European Commissioner.

 

Mitalas said the country has to nominate the best possible candidate to the European Commission to ensure that its portfolio in the next Commission is as influential as possible.

 

"I really think that Lithuania needs the best possible candidate who can have the most serious portfolio in the European Commission," the MP told the Ziniu Radijas radio station. "We often see countries' prime ministers vie for such a portfolio."

 

"Simonyte could objectively obtain a better portfolio in the European Commission, which no one doubts," he added.

 

Discussions about Lithuania's next EU commissioner reignited last week after Politico named Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, chairman of the ruling conservative Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats (HU-LCD), as Lithuania's possible candidate for a job in the EU's executive body.

 

In its article on "the front-runners for the next European Commission", Politico said that Landsbergis "is eyeing a foreign policy-related portfolio".

 

"We'll fight for Landsbergis' candidacy as much as they'll fight for the Civil Union," Mitalas said, referring to a bill under consideration in the parliament to legally recognize gender-neutral partnerships.

 

Landsbergis' HU-LCD is part of the European People's Party (EPP) family, which is seen as the favorite to win the most seats in next month's European Parliament elections and to nominate the next president of the Commission.

 

Each EU member country nominates one member of the EU's executive body. 

 

Virginijus Sinkevicius, Lithuania' current European Commissioner, is responsible for environment, oceans and fisheries.

 

Lithuania's nominee will have to be approved by the government, the parliament and the president, with the final decision on all candidates to be made by the European Parliament.

 

President Gitanas Nauseda has said that he will have a strong voice in deciding whom to nominate, but he has not yet named his favorite.

 

Ursula von der Leyen, the current European Commission president, is considered the favorite to lead the new Commission.

 

The European Parliament elections in Lithuania will be held on June 9.

 

 

 

By Saulius Jakučionis

 

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Cyber security situation in Lithuania stable, no future guarantees – defmin

 

VILNIUS, May 29, BNS - The cyber security situation in Lithuania remained stable last year, but that does not provide guarantees for the future as it is mainly influenced by geopolitical factors and the development of artificial intelligence, Defense Minister Laurynas Kasciunas said after the National Cyber Security Status Report was published on Wednesday

 

"In 2023, our cyber security situation was deemed stable, but that does not provide guarantees for the future as cyber security must remain a priority of Lithuania's ongoing digitalization processes," the minister told a press conference on Wednesday.

 

Drafted by the Defense Ministry and several other institutions, reports states that the total number of registered cyber incidents dropped by 30 percent last year to 3,300, from over 2,300 in 2022.

 

Geopolitical factors and the rapid development of the latest technologies, such as artificial intelligence, had the biggest impact on Lithuania's cyber security, Kasciunas said.

 

"Lithuania remained in the crosshairs of Kremlin-linked groups due to its active support for Ukraine," the minister said, adding that the highest number of incidents last year was recorded between July and September.

 

"This is undoubtedly linked to the NATO summit in Vilnius," Kasciunas pointed out.

 

Last year, the number of more dangerous medium-category incidents grew by 12 percent to 37, from 32 the year before.

 

"What we can see from the incidents is that no super-unique techniques were used as criminals achieved their goals due to our still insufficient security," Liudas Alisauskas, the head of the National Cyber Security Center, told the press conference.

 

Speaking about the development of artificial intelligence, he said the potential use of this technology to plan cyber operations is raising concern.

 

"Although there are no known cases or incidents where it has been said that (artificial intelligence - BNS) has been used, the possibilities and potential are enormous," he said.

 

According to the report, the majority of incidents had to do with the infrastructure of web hosting services, the public administration sector, the infrastructure of internet service providers, and the end devices of individuals connected to it.

 

According to the NCSC, the most damaging types and methods of cyber-attacks last year were malware viruses encrypting electronic data and demanding a ransom, distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, supply chain attacks and socially-engineered attacks designed to extort a variety of sensitive data.

 

In order to beef up Lithuania's cyber security, the Defense Ministry started the establishment of a Cyber Defense Command within the Lithuanian Armed Forces earlier this year. There are also plans to further strengthen the NCSC, as well as to continue the cyber security development program to strengthens the public sector's capacity to respond to cyber incidents.

 

By Vilmantas Venckūnas

 

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Lithuania's Cabinet allocates EUR 5 mln to rebuild schools, kindergartens in Ukraine

 

VILNIUS, May 29, BNS – Lithuania's Cabinet on Wednesday allocated 5 million euros to Ukraine's education sector.

 

The money will go towards the reconstruction and adaptation of destroyed Ukrainian schools and kindergartens, including the installation of bomb shelters and other safety equipment, the Finance Ministry said.

 

This planned support was announced during Finance Minister Gintare Skaistė's visit to Kyiv in March.

 

The money will be used to rebuild Ukraine's educational and scientific institutions damaged or destroyed during the ongoing war, as well as to purchase teaching aids and computer equipment, to upgrade the research and innovation infrastructure network, and to ensure a safe educational environment.

 

The World Bank estimates the damage to Ukraine at 450 billion euros, and the minimum reconstruction costs in 2024 will stand at 14 billion US dollars.

 

The Finance Ministry estimates that Lithuania has provided Ukraine with aid worth around 1.5 percent of its GDP since the outbreak of the war.

 

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Lithuanian healthmin urges WHO to invite Taiwan to it assembly as observer

 

VILNIUS, May 29, BNS – Lithuanian Health Minister Arynas Dulkys has urged the World Health Organization to invite Taiwan to attend the World Health Assembly in Geneva as an observer.

 

"Given the global toll of war, conflict and crises, it is important to learn from those countries that have an excellent record in responding to pandemics. Taiwan's contribution, including its expertise in health security, disease prevention and crisis management, is invaluable. The unjustified rejection of Taiwan's contribution calls into question our All for Health, Health for All commitment," the minister was quoted as saying in the Health Ministry's statement.

 

The World Health Assembly is taking place from May 27 until June 1. Attending the assembly, Dulkys also stressed that Russia's crimes are depriving Ukrainians of access to adequate health services.

 

The Assembly is discussing preparedness and response to health emergencies, infection prevention and control, universal health coverage, chronic non-communicable diseases, reproductive health, maternal and child mortality, and other topical issues such as the strategy to fight tuberculosis, antimicrobial resistance, climate change and health.

 

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Lithuanian ForMin summons Georgian ambassador over 'foreign influence' law

 

VILNIUS, May 29, BNS – Lithuania's Foreign Ministry on Wednesday summoned Georgia's ambassador was summoned to express its concern about the situation in Georgia

 

Earlier this month, the Georgian parliament passed a controversial "foreign influence" law despite mass protests and calls from foreign countries to repeal it. The law was vetoed by the country's President Salome Zourabichvili, but the parliament overrode the veto on Tuesday.

 

Critics condemn the law, saying it is similar to the one in force in Russia, aimed at silencing Moscow's opponents. The EU has warned that the law is incompatible with Georgia's long-standing bid to join the block, which is enshrined in the country's constitution and is supported by more than 80 percent of Georgians, according to public opinion polls.

 

"Deep concern was expressed to the ambassador over the decision by Georgia's ruling party, as well as other actions aimed at intimidating and restricting the activities of civil society in the country, which are fundamentally at odds with the country's constitutionally enshrined aspirations for EU-NATO integration," the Foreign Ministry's statement reads.

 

The law stipulates that all independent NGOs and media organizations that receive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad must register as acting in the "interests of a foreign state".

 

"Lithuania is deeply concerned about these developments in Georgia and is working with its partners to consider possible responses," the ministry said. "Stressing the need to ensure free and fair elections reflecting the will of the Georgian public, Lithuania continues to consistently support the aspirations of the Georgian society to link the country's future with the EU and NATO."

 

Last week, the United States imposed new visa restrictions on people involved in the passage of the controversial law in response to the situation.

 

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said on Tuesday that Tbilisi was turning away from Europe with this action, while Foreign Minister Gabriel Landsbergis said that the law would "essentially stop" Georgia from joining the European Union.

 

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German Bundeswehr concludes Exercise Grand Quadriga 2024

 

VILNIUS, May 29, BNS - The large-scale Exercise Grand Quadriga 2024, a joint exercise of the German Bundeswehr and the Lithuanian, Dutch and Franco-German brigades, concluded on Wednesday.

 

The exercise focused on the redeployment of two divisions from the central European region to the east, with more than 3,000 German troops and 200 pieces of military equipment deployed to Lithuania by land, rail, sea and air for almost a month, the Lithuanian army said.

 

Lithuanian Chief of Defense General Valdemaras Rupsys underlined that it was an exceptional exercise in terms of its in scope.

 

"This is the first time since the Cold War that Germany was conducting such a large-scale redeployment of its forces at divisional level to NATO's eastern flank, including Lithuania. This is part of NATO's regional defense plans, endorsed last summer at the NATO Vilnius Summit, which aim to test in real conditions the rapid redeployment of their assigned capabilities to the required area of operations," Rupsys said.

 

During the exercise, the German army deployed Leopard 2 tanks, Puma infantry fighting vehicles, PzH 2000 self-propelled artillery systems and Tiger attack helicopters in Lithuania.

 

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Upcoming events in Lithuania for Thursday, May 30, 2024

 

VILNIUS, May 30, BNS – The following events are scheduled in Lithuania for Thursday, May 30, 2024.

 

PRIME MINISTER Ingrida Simonyte to continue her visit to Singapore.

 

FOREIGN MINISTER Gabrielius Landsbergis to pay a working visit to Prague, to attend a meeting of NATO foreign ministers.

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