Last week, PM said her confidence in agriculture minister unwavering; PM, party leaders, business, unions discussed defence funding
EU Home Affairs Commissioner Johansson visits Lithuania
European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson paid visit to Lithuania on Friday, the 2nd of February. The commissioner met with Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė and they discussed the security situation and the European Union’s solidarity with Ukraine, the European Commission Representation in Lithuania said. Johansson also spoke at an international conference on women in law enforcement. The conference focused on the role of women and gender equality in law enforcement, with a particular focus on the low number of women in leadership positions.
1st German troops coming Lithuania to rent accommodation
The first German brigade troops who will come to Lithuania later this year are going to rent housing from the private sector, but the Defence Ministry plans long-term solutions for the accommodation of German troops and their families, the ministry said on Thursday, the 1st of February. Several thousand German troops are expected to arrive in Lithuania with their families and children of different ages, according to the ministry. These issues were discussed on Thursday, the 1st of February, by an inter-institutional working group that includes representatives of all ministries. It was set up to resolve issues related to civil infrastructure and services necessary for hosting the planned German brigade.
State Security Service silent on former Belarusian police major case
Lithuania’s State Security Department has refrained to comment on how Alexander Matsiyevich, a former Belarusian police major who took part in a crackdown on protesters in his home country, obtained a temporary residence permit in Lithuania. The intelligence service, however, warns that the sharp increase in the inflow of Belarusians poses an additional threat and risk. “The State Security Department does not comment on individual cases, however, notes that it has repeatedly warned of the risks and threats posed by the sharp increase in the inflow of people from Belarus,” the SSD said on Thursday, the 1st of February. It says it is possible that some of the people who provide information to state institutions are trying to conceal information about their service or employment relationships. The department carried out threat assessments of a total of 121 577 foreigners last year and informed the Migration Department in 1 415 cases that these individuals’ residence in Lithuania posed a threat to national security.
Lithuania opens innovation centre in US Silicon Valley
Lithuania has opened InnoHub Lithuania, an innovation centre, in the Silicon Valley in the US. Economy and Innovation Minister Aušrinė Armonaitė said Wednesday, the 31st of January, that the new center will help Lithuanian developers of advanced technologies to establish and develop contacts with partners in the US and help exporters to gain a foothold in the US market. “InnoHub Lithuania will become an important link between Lithuanian and US start-ups and innovators, will help to establish targeted contacts, and will provide assistance on the export of Lithuanian high value-added products and services to the US,” the minister was quoted as saying in the statement. InnoHub Lithuania will provide assistance to Lithuanian high-tech companies and bring together US mentors to advise Lithuanian innovation businesses. It will also organize conferences and exhibitions.
President, EU commission chief discuss farmers’ demands
President Gitanas Nausėda met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels on Wednesday, the 31st of January, to discuss Lithuanian farmers’ demands. “The agricultural sector has an impact on a very wide range of people, including consumers, industry and environmental communities. I stressed that the issue of restoration of permanent grasslands is particularly acute in Lithuania,” Nausėda posted on Facebook after the meeting. Lithuanian farmers staged a large protest in Vilnius to demand, among other things, the scrapping of the EU requirement to restore permanent grasslands, land uncultivated for more than five years. If grassland covers less than 5 percent of the overall arable land area, farmers are obliged to restore it. Farmers say this is a heavy burden, because grasslands need to be maintained and they bring no agricultural benefit, resulting in less production and lower competitiveness.
Court tells FCIS to remove Vydmantai Wind Park from sanctioned firm list
Vydmantai Wind Park, a Lithuanian company owned by Inter RAO Lietuva, a Russian-owned electricity supplier, must be removed from the list of sanctioned companies drawn up by Lithuania’s Financial Crime Investigation Service (FCIS), a court has ruled, Sigita Gamulenienė, spokesperson for the court, said on Wednesday, the 31st of January. In May 2022, the FCIS announced that Vydmantai Wind Park’s fund had been frozen due to links with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Elektrum Lietuva, an electricity supplier, later terminated its contract with Vydmantai Wind Park signed in September 2020, and the Lithuanian Court of Appeal ruled in December that Elektrum Lietuva had done so lawfully.
Ethics watchdog finds president, ambassador to UK in conflict of interest
President Gitanas Nausėda and Eitvydas Bajarūnas, Lithuania’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, placed themselves in conflict of interest situation when the embassy paid for their tickets to a musical in London, the Chief Official Ethics Commission (COEC) ruled on Tuesday, the 30th of January. Its probe found that the visit by Nausėda and Bajarūnas was of a private nature and that the expenses were covered by the embassy. Following the investigation, the watchdog concluded that Nausėda “used his status and position for personal gain” and that the tickets bought him and for his wife were “an unlawful gift” prohibited by the Law on the Adjustment of Public and Private Interests. The COEC said Bajarūnas violated the provisions of the law that oblige him to perform his official duties impartially, honestly and properly. These provisions also prohibit the use of official positions and official status for personal gain and the use and authorization of others to use state or municipal property for non-official activities.
PM says she has confidence in agriculture minister
Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė said on Tuesday, the 30th of January, that she has confidence in Agriculture Minister Kestutis Navickas, following last week’s protest by farmers against the government’s agricultural policy. “I definitely see no reason to express no-confidence in the minister at the moment,” she told LRT Radio. Šimonytė noted that the issues raised by the farmers were about the European Green Deal policy, rather than about the Agriculture Ministry’s exclusive jurisdiction. The PM says today’s problems partially stem from years of concentrating support and aid on the crop sector, which has a significant impact on the environment, according to the prime minister. The protesting farmers demanded that the government reverse a hike in the excise duty on liquefied petroleum gas in effect since January 1 and bring back a reduced excise tax rate on diesel fuel for their trucks. They also raised other issues, including the restoration of permanent grasslands, the expansion of protected areas, and the dairy crisis.
Lithuania yet do decide on aid for UN Palestinian refugee agency
Lithuania is not taking any decisions for now on funding for the UN Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA amid an investigation into Israel’s accusations that some of its staff were involved in Hamas’ the 7th of October attack on the Jewish state. The minister’s comment came on Monday, the 29th of January, after several donor countries halted funding for UNRWA following the allegations. According to Landsbergis, if Lithuania has to make its decision before the investigation is over, it will suspend the process. The Foreign minister says Lithuania coordinates its position on the issue with the other two Baltic countries. Lithuania typically allocated around 100 000 euros to the refugee agency, the minister said.
PM, party leaders, business, unions discuss defence funding
Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė on Monday, the 29th of January, met with political party leaders, business representatives, and trade union officials and discuss defence funding. The need for defence funding is growing due to Lithuania’s plans to create a light infantry division by 2030 and draft more conscripts. The prime minister has said that the plans for the expansion of the Armed Forces would require additional funding of around 0.4-0.5% of GDP, on top of the 2.52% of GDP currently agreed by political parties. A defence tax is one of the options under consideration. President Gitanas Nausėda and some parties oppose raising VAT to boost defence funding. The president says such a model of defence funding would increase the tax burden for people and could only be considered if accompanied by VAT exemptions and reductions.
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Week in Lithuania | Lithuania opens Silicon Valley innovation centre; President, ambassador to UK in conflict of interest
