Last week, ex–president Adamkus contracted coronavirus, 1 248 new COVID-19 cases, one death over Wednesday, 28 September.
Lithuanian Railways sees increase in Ukrainian cargo flow to Klaipėda
The flow of goods from Ukraine via Poland to the Lithuanian seaport of Klaipeda has increased in recent months, with Ukrainians mostly exporting grain and importing diesel fuel, Egidijus Lazauskas, CEO of Lietuvos Geležinkeliai (Lithuanian Railways, LTG), said on Friday, 30 September.
LTG Cargo, the freight arm of the state–owned railway group, transported around 50 000 tons of agricultural products from Ukraine via Poland to Klaipeda from May, when the shipments started, to September, according to Lazauskas.
He would not comment on a statement by Igor Udovickij, the majority shareholder of Biriu Kroviniu Terminalas (Bulk Cargo Terminal, or BKT), a former leading Klaipeda port operator, that the company could handle around one million tons of Ukrainian grain per month, or a total of about ten million tons by next year’s harvest.
State energy group purchases onshore wind farm project in Poland
Ignitis Renewables, a subsidiary of Ignitis Grupė (Ignitis Group), Lithuania’s state–owned energy group, announced on Thursday, 29 September, it has acquired 100% of an unidentified company developing an onshore wind farm in Poland.
The total preliminary investment, including the acquisition price and the construction costs, will stand at around 240 million euros.
The total capacity of the wind farm (Silesia 2) is up to 137 MW. The project is currently at an advanced stage of development with an estimated COD in H2 2024. Currently, Ignitis Grupė has 1.2 GW in green generation capacity.
Parliament board rejects proposal to check MPs’ sobriety
The Board of the Lithuanian Seimas on Friday, 30 September, rejected a proposal by MP Arvydas Nekrošius, representing the opposition Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union, to start checking MPs’ sobriety after the sale of alcoholic beverages was once again allowed in the parliamentary canteen.
The board tasked the Seimas chancellor to write Nekrošius a response, telling him there’s legal basis for such checks.
On Wednesday, 28 September, the parliament’s board decided to allow the sale of alcohol with maximum alcohol content of 15% in Seimas buildings. Presenting such a proposal, Seimas Chancellor Modestas Gelbuda said the permission would be important for the search of a new caterer as no companies had come forward to provide catering services to the parliament in August.
The sale of alcoholic beverages was banned within in Seimas buildings in 2008 on the initiative of the then Speaker of the Parliament Arūnas Valinskas.
Border guards deter 73 migrants
Lithuanian border guards turned away 73 migrants attempting to cross into the country from Belarus illegally from Thursday, 29 September, to Friday, 30 September, the State Border Guard Service (SBGS) said on Friday.
The daily number of migrants refused entry to Lithuania reached this year’s high of 135 on 20 September, nine fewer than the highest ever number recorded on November 12, 2021. A total of 8 141 irregular migrants have been stopped from entering Lithuania since January.
Lithuanian border guards have sent more than 16 200 people back to Belarus since 3 August, 2021, when they were given the right to deny entry to irregular migrants. The number includes repeated attempts by the same people to cross the border. Almost 4 200 irregular migrants crossed into Lithuania from Belarus illegally last year
Inflation in Lithuania probably peaked but will remain high
Inflation in Lithuania may have already peaked and should start going down, but may remain high until the beginning of next year, Gediminas Šimkus, board chairman of the central Bank of Lithuania, said on Thursday, 29 September.
Official statistics shows that annual inflation was estimated to have reached was 22.5 percent in September, the highest level since September of 1996.
The Bank of Lithuania expects annual inflation to reach 18.3% this year and to fall to 8.4% next year.
Lithuania reports 1 248 new COVID-19 cases, one death
Lithuania recorded 1 248 new coronavirus infections and one death from COVID-19 over Wednesday, 28 September. Of the new cases, 953 were primary, 278 were secondary and 17 were tertiary.
The number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 now stands at 163, including 12 ICU cases. The 14–day primary infection rate has edged down to 600 cases per 100 000 people, with the seven-day percentage of positive tests down to 39.1%. The daily number of new coronavirus cases remains well below the peak of over 14 000 reached in early February. More than 1.2 million people in Lithuania have tested positive with COVID-19 at least once.
Lithuania to up its defence spending by 148 million euros
Lithuania will spend an additional 148 million euros on defence this year and buy Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTV), HIMARS rocket systems, radars, ammunition. On Wednesday, 28 September, the country’s government approved the allocation of additional funds planned in the budget after the Finance Ministry updated its GDP forecast, as overall defence funding is linked to this indicator.
Currently, Lithuania allocates 2.5% of its GDP on defence.
Speaking at the Cabinet, National Defence Minister Arvydas Anušauskas said the additional funds would be used to restore Lithuania’s military capabilities following the transfer of 50 armoured personnel carriers to Ukraine.
Lithuania plans to buy Oshkosh JLTVs, medium–range air radars, and a HIMARS multiple rocket launcher. In his words, 10 million euros will be spent on radars, and 60 million euros will be allocated for a HIMARS system, with a contract for the latter set to be signed later this year. A further 38 million euros will be invested in the purchase of various munitions.
Lithuania drops 4 places in global economic freedom index
Lithuania dropped four notches to rank twelve out of 165 countries and territories in the Fraser Institute’s latest Economic Freedom of the World index. In the latest report, based on 2020 data, Lithuania scored 7.82 out of a possible 10 points, 1.1 points lower than a year ago.
According to the Canadian think tank, Lithuania’s overall score was dragged down by the government’s increased influence on economic processes. Based on this criterion, Lithuania is ranked alongside developing countries such as Brazil, Botswana and Zambia.
Lithuania scored the highest for Sound Money (9.2 out of 10) and the lowest for Size of Government (6.6). Its scores in other major areas are 7.24 for Legal System and Property Rights, 7.72 for Regulation and 8.33 for Freedom to Trade Internationally.
The Lithuanian Free Market Institute (LLRI), which helped the Fraser Institute to conduct the research, told the Vz.lt online news site that Lithuania took its biggest step backwards in the size of government area, dropping to number 87, from 39th place before the pandemic.
Lithuania’s ex-president contracts coronavirus
Lithuania’s former President Valdas Adamkus has tested positive for the coronavirus and will miss Wednesday’s ceremony where he was to be presented with the regalia of an honorary citizen of Vilnius. Božena Bagonaitienė, his aide, confirmed it on Tuesday, 27 September. She said the 95–year–old former president was being treated at home.