Last week, CB revised up 2023 GDP forecast, cuts 2024 growth projection; Girteka Group’s companies announced of layoff of more than 100 employees.
Lithuania reports 798 new COVID-19 cases, one death
Lithuania Recorded 798 new coronavirus infections and one death from COVID-19 over Thursday, the 21st of December, official statistics showed on Friday, the 22nd of December. The 14-day primary infection rate has dropped to 507.7 cases per 100 000 people, with the seven-day percentage of positive tests at 33.4%. COVID-19 incidence in Lithuania took an upward turn in mid-September having stayed at a low level since May.
Nine irregular migrants turned away on Lithuania’s border with Belarus
Lithuanian border guards turned away nine migrants over Thursday, the 21st of December, attempting to cross into the country from Belarus illegally, the State Border Guard Service (SBGS) said on Friday, the 22th of December. More than 2 500 irregular migrants have been barred from entering Lithuania from Belarus at non-designated places so far this year.
Seimas fails to strip imprisoned MP Gapšys of his mandate
Lawmakers on Thursday, the 21st of December, failed to strip imprisoned MP Vytautas Gapšys, representing the opposition Labor Party, of his mandate. The votes on four separate criminal offense episodes did not result in the minimum number of votes, 85, needed to revoke his mandate. As Gapšys was convicted of four corruption-related criminal offenses, MPs voted separately to revoke the mandate for each of them but the highest number of votes for one of them was 75. However, at least 85 out of 141 MPs had to vote in favour of at least one of the four resolutions for the mandate to be revoked. Last month, the Lithuanian Court of Appeal sentenced Gapšys to four years and six months in prison for corruption offenses, and he is currently serving his time in Kaunas Prison. He is also disqualified for five years from being elected or appointed to any elected or appointed position in state or municipal institutions and establishments, companies or non-state organizations.
Seimas okays proposed conscription reform
The Lithuanian parliament Seimas on Wednesday, the 20th of December, gave its initial backing to the Defence Ministry’s proposed conscription reform after 72 lawmakers voted in favour, one was against and 25 abstained. The bill will now be considered by parliamentary committees and will return to the main hall in the spring. Under the new model, the conscription age limit would be set at 18-21 years, instead of the existing 18-23 years, and studies in higher education establishments would not be seen as an exception to postpone military service. The reform will also include the reduction of the existing nine-month service time to six months for some conscripts.
Vinted announces Canadian market exit
Vinted, a Vilnius-based online second-hand fashion marketplace and Lithuania’s first unicorn, said on Wednesday, the 20th of December, it is pulling out of the Canadian market. The company said that back in 2021, it launched Vinted in Canada using a different technical platform than in other countries. The company points out that this decision allows it to focus on other markets and strengthen its positions in the Nordic countries – Denmark, Finland and Sweden. After exiting Canada, Vinted will be available in 19 markets, including Lithuania, the UK, France, Germany, the US, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Spain, Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Portugal, Luxembourg, Finland, Denmark, Austria, Sweden, Hungary and Romania. In 2019, Vinted became Lithuania’s first unicorn, a highly successful start-up valued more than one billion euros.
EU Commission allots nine million euros to Lithuania
The European Commission (EC) on Tuesday, the 19th of December, adopted a positive preliminary assessment, which will result in unlocking to Lithuania the amount of almost nine million euros out of frozen 26 million euros in the Recovery and Resilience Facility’s (RRF) funds, the Finance Ministry reported. According to the ministry, the Commission’s decision was taken after assessing additional information provided by Lithuania, in view of which the Commission deemed the milestone, related to environmental taxes and taxation of other sources less detrimental to economic growth, fulfilled satisfactorily.
CB revises up 2023 GDP forecast, cuts 2024 growth projection
The Bank of Lithuania on Tuesday, the 19th of December, revised its Lithuanian GDP growth forecast for 2023 upwards to a 0.2% contraction, but cut its 2024 economic growth projection to 1.8%. The central bank forecast in September that the economy would contract by 0.6% this year before returning to 2.1% growth next year. According to the central bank, sluggish growth in international markets is preventing a faster recovery of Lithuanian industry, which is highly export-oriented and generates a large share of added value. The country’s exports are now expected to grow by 0.5% next year, following a 5.3% drop this year. The Bank of Lithuania now expects the annual inflation to reach 8.8 % this year before going down to 2.5% next year.
Hackers got access to KTU employee data
Hackers got access to the personal data of employees at Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) as it was hit by a cyber-attack in early December, the university said on Tuesday, the 19th of December. The data included names, surnames, personal identification numbers, addresses, phone numbers, e-mails, and car license plates. KTU says it continues to investigate the incident and is working with the State Data Protection Inspectorate and the police. The university is also gradually restoring all systems affected by the incident.
Girteka Group’s companies laying off more than 100 employees
Several companies of Lithuania’s transport, freight and logistics group Girteka, which operates Europe’s largest fleet of own trucks, said on Monday, the 18th of December, it plans to lay off more than 100 employees. Girteka Europe West, Girteka Nordic and Girteka Competence Center have notified the Employment Service that they have given notice of redundancies to a total of 107 employees. According to the Employment Service, the most significant job losses are expected to be in sales managers, project managers, management consultants, as well as in cost-efficiency, accounting and HR specialists.
Seimas strips MP Gražulis of his mandate
The Seimas of Lithuania on Monday, the 18th of December, stripped MP Petras Gražulis of his mandate for breaking his oath as a lawmaker, thus preventing him from running for parliament or president for ten years after 86 lawmakers voted in favour, eight were against and four abstained. The move needed the backing of at least 85 MPs out of the total of 141 during a secret ballot. A total of 105 MPs voted. The impeachment proceedings were launched after the Constitutional Court found that Gražulis had broken his oath and committed a serious violation of the Constitution when he voted for Social Democrat MP Linas Jonauskas.
Lithuania receives 300 million loan from European Investment Bank
Lithuania on Monday, the 18th of December, received a 35-year loan of 300 million euros from the European Investment Bank (EIB). The funds transferred to the national treasury will support investment in competitiveness, job creation and green and digital transformation. Finance Minister Gintarė Skaiste says that Lithuania has taken advantage of the EIB’s attractive lending conditions at a time of high interest rates. The loan will bear interest at a fixed annual rate of 3.052%.
Lithuania’s LTG Link starts ticket sales to Riga
LTG Link, the passenger arm of Lietuvos Geležinkeliai (Lithuanian Railways, LTG), Lithuania’s state-owned railway company, on Monday, the 18th of December, started selling tickets for a new train from Vilnius to Riga, which will start running on the 27th of December. A standard ticket costs 24 euros, with prices varying depending on the class chosen, LTG Link said in a press release. Direct trains to Riga will run daily, leaving Vilnius for Riga in the morning and returning in the afternoon. It will take just over four hours to get from Vilnius to Riga by train, and the duration of the trip may change slightly only as a result of repairs or other works. Passengers will be carried between the capitals of Lithuania and Latvia on a modern diesel-powered Pesa 730 ML train with 142 seats and four bicycle racks. It will be accessible for people with disabilities and hot and cold snacks and drinks will be available throughout the journey.
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Week in Lithuania | Seimas okays proposed conscription reform, strips MP Grazulis of his mandate
