Last week, the top court found the ban on the promotion of LGBTIQ family concept unconstitutional; Foreign minister called for EU sanctions against Georgian politicians
Lithuanian PM says he feels ‘privilege and honour’ during 1st Kyiv visit
Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas paid his first visit to Ukraine on Friday, the 20th of December, and says he felt “privilege and honour”. The prime minister is accompanied by almost the entire Cabinet, except for Finance Minister Rimantas Šadžius. “It is a privilege & honour to be in Kyiv for my first visit as prime minister of Lithuania,” he posted on X on Friday. The Lithuanian delegation will also meet the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Court allows bilingual direction signs in Šalčininkai District
The Supreme Administrative Court of Lithuania (SACL) has ruled that bilingual public signs are allowed where there is a need to provide information to both local residents and foreign visitors. On Wednesday, the 18th of December, the court overturned the State Language Inspectorate’s instruction that bilingual public signs in the southeastern district of Šalčininkai be displayed exclusively in Lithuanian. According to the court, foreign languages can be used on public signs, especially for purposes of international communication, such as in transport or public spaces where there is a need to inform both locals and foreign guests. The court annulled the State Language Inspectorate’s instruction requiring these signs to be in the state language only.
President says 2025 budget allows raising defence spending to 4% of GDP
President Gitanas Nausėda said on Thursday, the 19th of December, that the 2025 state budget passed by the parliament makes it possible to allocate 4% of GDP to the national defence. “The fact that we will allocate 4% of GDP to defence is encouraging,” Nausėda told reporters in Brussels. “Unfortunately, the previous government talked a lot about our security but even planned to cut the defence budget. We love our country through actions, not words, and I believe we’re heading in the right direction,” he added. The draft budget initially allocated about 2.5 billion euros for defence, or just over 3% of GDP. However, the new government increased the 2025 borrowing limit by roughly 800 million euros, and borrowing this full amount could raise defence spending to 4% of GDP.
President sees ‘no drama’ in SEB Bank move
President Gitanas Nausėda said Wednesday, the 18th of December, that he sees “no drama” as Swedish-owned SEB Bank, one of the country’s largest banks in Lithuania, announced plans to merge its three banks operating in the Baltics into one and move its headquarters to Tallinn. Nausėda was SEB Lithuania’s chief economist until his election as president in 2019.
Top court finds ban on promotion of LGBTIQ family concept unconstitutional
Lithuania’s Constitutional Court on Wednesday, the 18th of December, found the provision of the country’s law, banning the dissemination among minors of information that “expresses contempt for family values” and promotes the LGBTQ+ family concept unconstitutional. The former government had asked the court to rule on the constitutionality of the Law on the Protection of Minors Against the Detrimental Effect of Public Information. The law states that minors are adversely affected by information that “expresses contempt for family values, encourages the concept of entry into a marriage and creation of a family other than stipulated in the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania and the Civil Code of the Republic of Lithuania”. The Court has now ruled that this provision runs counter to Article 25 of the Constitution, stating that “everyone shall have the right to have his own convictions and freely express them. No one must be hindered from seeking, receiving, or imparting information and ideas.” The court however stated on Wednesday that any restrictions on the dissemination of information to minors must not undermine or disregard other values enshrined in the Constitution.
EC disburses another 463 million euro in RRF grant, loans to Lithuania
The European Commission has paid Lithuania a further 463 million euros in grants and loans under the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility, the Finance Ministry said on Tuesday, the 17th of December, confirming that Lithuania’s third request had been granted. Lithuania had requested 463 million euros (532 million euros with advance payments), including 175 million euros in grants and 288 million euros in loans. Submitted in September, the request has to do with 28 indicators covering investment in new electricity storage facilities, as well as reforms, including in the areas of medicine, education, investment in renewable energy and tax collection. According to the Finance Ministry, Lithuania has so far received almost 1.4 billion euros in RRF funding.
Neman Dawn leader Žemaitaitis threatens to leave Coalition
Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas said Tuesday, the 17th of December, that all arising issues will be resolved although Remigijus Žemaitaitis, leader of the Nemunas Dawn party, threatens to leave the ruling coalition. The coalition agreement does indeed give the Nemunas Dawn party two positions of vice speakers of the Seimas. Agne Širinskienė has already filled one of them, and Žemaitaitis is seeking the second one. The prime minister, however, points out that the coalition agreement does not mention the names of Seimas vice speakers, and he disagrees with Žemaitaitis’ view that the coalition agreement is not being implemented.
Lithuania commits to buying German Leopard tanks, seeks earlier delivery date
Lithuania’s new Defence Minister Dovilė Šakalienė signed a document confirming Lithuania’s commitment to purchasing Leopard tanks during her first official visit to Berlin on Monday, the 16th of December. Lithuania will acquire 44 tanks. With increased defence spending, talks are underway to secure an earlier delivery date. Under the initial agreement, the first tank company is expected to arrive in Lithuania in 2029, with a full battalion to be formed in 2034. Lithuania wants to bring the tank delivery date forward as it aims to have a fully operational national division by 2030. However, defence officials estimate that, at current funding levels, this goal would only be achievable between 2036 and 2040.
Foreign minister calls for EU sanctions against Georgian politicians
Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys on Monday, the 16th of December, called on the European Union to follow the Baltic state’s suit and sanction Georgian politicians and officials responsible for the crackdown on protests, review the visa-free regime and find funding for the country’s civil society. Last week, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze was sanctioned by Lithuania, and a little earlier, Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party, was also put on the list. Almost 30 politicians and officials from Georgia are sanctioned right now and are banned from entering Lithuania. According to the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry, the sanctioned persons have directly contributed to the gross and systematic violations of human rights and the restriction of fundamental freedoms in Georgia.