Last week, Lithuania’s new Energy minister hinted that terms of the second 700 MW offshore wind farm project could be amended
Army chief is content with defence funding of 4% of GDP
Lithuania’s Chief of Defence General Raimundas Vaikšnoras said defence funding of 4% of GDP makes it possible to start talking about the possibility of a national division reaching full operational capability by 2030. “We all understand that the formation of a national division and it reaching its full operational capability by 2030 is key, and that percentage will allow us not to drag it into 2035-2040, as it might have been with lower percentages, but to have it by 2030,” the army chief told reporters on Friday, the 3rd of January. Lithuania’s state budget currently includes around 2.5 billion euros, or just over 3% of GDP, for defence. But as the new government has recently increased the 2025 borrowing limit by around 800 million euros, borrowing the full amount could take the national defence funding to 4%.
Terms of the second 700 MW offshore wind farm project can be amended
Lithuania’s new Energy Minister Žygimantas Vaičiūnas does not rule out the possibility of changing the terms of Lithuania’s project of the second 700 MW offshore wind farm in the Baltic Sea, the auction for which was announced last November. “We are looking for solutions that could ensure the continuation of this project, but perhaps with some adjusted project terms,” he told the Žinių Radijas news radio on Thursday, the 2nd of January. Vaičiūnas reiterated that projects such as the second offshore wind farm cannot be carried out “at a price that would be a burden for consumers”. On the 18th of November, Lithuania re-launched the tender for the development of the country’s planned second 700 MW offshore wind park in the Baltic Sea, worth 3.13 billion euros. The tender was initially launched early last year but failed as there was no required minimum number of participants, at least two, in April. As a result, the Seimas simplified its conditions over the summer.
Lithuania set to propose to Latvia, Estonia to build new power plant
Lithuania will propose to Latvia and Estonia to build a new electric power plant together to ensure flexible electricity generation and energy security, Energy Minister Žygimantas Vaičiūnas said on Thursday, the 2nd of January. The minister did not elaborate on the potential location or the technology of the project. The new Lithuanian government’s program envisages a discussion with other Baltic countries on a possible joint capacity auction for investors in modern and agile power plants that would produce electricity when there is no wind or sun for longer periods of time. Previously, the three Baltic countries have failed to agree on the construction of a joint liquefied natural gas terminal, they have disagreed on the location of the starting point of a submarine electricity cable to Sweden, they have long disagreed on a common gas market.
Interior minister presents ambition to create Regions Ministry to his Polish colleagues
Lithuania’s Interior Minister Vladislav Kondratovič presented on Monday, the 30th of December, Lithuania’s aspirations to establish a Regions Ministry to the Polish Minister of Development Funds and Regional Policy, Katarzyna Pelczynska-Nalecz, during his visit to Poland, vowing to build on the experience of the neighbouring country. During the visit, cooperation on migration, border security and response to hybrid threats was also discussed, and the Lithuanian minister also met with the Polish Minister of the Interior and Administration, Tomasz Siemoniak, the Interior Ministry said in a press release.
Ex-MP accused of misusing municipal funds for fuel, phone bills
Andrius Vyšniauskas, a former member of the Lithuanian parliament and a councillor in the southern town of Marijampolė, is accused in the so-called “receipt” case of unlawfully using allowances intended for his activities as a municipal politician to cover his expenses for diesel fuel, phones bought on an instalment plan, and communication services. At the Kaunas Regional Court’s hearing on Monday, the 30th of December, Prosecutor Valentinas Alekna read out part of the indictment, in which Vyšniauskas is accused of falsifying 19 expense reports while serving on the Marijampolė council. The most serious charge against the politician is abuse of office for personal gain, along with charges of fraud and document forgery.
Minister does not back ratification of EU-Mercosur trade deal
Lithuania should not back the ratification of the free trade agreement between the European Union and the South American Mercosur bloc, Agriculture Minister Ignas Hofmanas said on Monday, the 30th of December. “The Seimas Committee on Rural Affairs has adopted this decision, and the ministry supports it as well. The European Commission has promised a detailed explanation of the agreement, which we’d like to wait for, but for now, this is our stance,” he said on an LRT TV program. In mid-December, the parliamentary committee decided to propose that the government oppose the agreement in the EU Council and join other member states blocking it, citing concerns from Lithuanian farmers about unfair competition.
Unemployment in Lithuania will continue to rise
Lithuania’s labour market barometer indicator stood at 96.6 points in December, or 3 points lower than in November, while the European Labor Market Barometer edged down by 0.1 points month-on-month to 98.9 points, which means that the situation on the Lithuanian labour market is getting worse. Unemployment is expected to continue rising in the coming months both in Lithuania and in Europe as a whole, the Lithuanian Employment Service said on Monday, the 30th of December, citing the European Labor Market Barometer.
Germany’s Rheinmetall and Lithuania sign joint venture agreement
German defence industry giant Rheinmetall and two Lithuanian state-owned companies – Epso-G Invest, a subsidiary of energy group Epso-G, and Giraitės Ginkluotės Gamykla (Giraitė Armament Plant, GGG) have signed an agreement on the establishment of a joint venture, which will implement a project, preliminary valued at 260 million euros, for a 155 mm artillery ammunition plant in Baisogala, a small town in the northern district of Radviliškis, Epso-G said on Monday, the 30th of December. The final agreement signed by the parties remotely on the 20th of December leaves no more obstacles for launching the construction of the future plant. Under the agreement, Rheinmetall will own a 51% stake in Rheinmetall Defence Lithuania, Epso-G Invest will hold a 48% stake in the joint venture, and GGG – 1%. The maximum value of the project is currently estimated at around 300 million euros.
President offers condolences after former US President Carter’s death
President Gitanas Nausėda has offered his condolences following the death of former US President Jimmy Carter. “Rest in peace, President Jimmy Carter,” Nausėda posted on the X social media platform last Sunday, the 29th of December. “His lifelong dedication to service and compassion will be remembered. Condolences to his family and the American people,” the tweet said.