Lithuania

The government has approved a three-year action plan on diaspora policy focusing on education, culture and national security; the plan also includes the possibility of conducting a global census of people of Lithuanian origin to take stock of the diaspora

The Lithuanian Cabinet approved the central government draft budget for 2025; budget revenues are expected to grow by 5,9%, to €17,98 billion, and expenditures are expected to increase by 11,7%, to €23,02 billion; budget deficit is projected at 3% of GDP

Almost 87% of the heat produced in Vilnius will be ‘clean’ thanks to the activation of the most powerful heat pump in the Baltic States, within the territory of Vilnius Power Plant 2, operated by Vilniaus Šilumos Tinklai

Lithuanian ports denied entry to damaged cargo ship, MV Ruby, carrying 20.000 tons of explosive ammonium nitrate; the vessel, originating from Kola Peninsula, Russia, was apparently en route to Lithuania and is currently being towed towards the Baltic Sea

While the overall number of suicides in Lithuania is decreasing and more young people are seeking emotional help, the problem persists among citizens over 60, among whom suicide remains a serious problem

The government plans to invest up to €1,2 billion to equip its soldiers with modern weapons and equipment over the next decade; €30 million will be spent in the period 2025-2027 on various equipment, including clothing

"Akiplėša" (Toxic) by Lithuanian director Saulė Bliuvaitė has won the Golden Leopard prize of best movie at the 77th Locarno Film Festival; it reflects the dreary lives of girls in an industrial city, which they want to escape with a modeling career

A new phase in the construction of the Rail Baltica bridge over the Neris in the Jonava district, has started: contractor Rizzani de Eccher is delivering sheet piles to the site

As of 1 August, cars passing through the low-emission zone in the historic centre of Kaunas have to pay a €2-tax; the measure has affected restaurants operating in the area, which report a drop in takeaway orders of up to 70%

The Seimas, the Lithuanian Parliament, will not vote on the civil unions bill on 18 July, the last day of the spring session, thus postponing the vote until after the summer

The monthly minimum wage in Lithuania could exceed the €1.000 threshold before taxes in 2025, predicts the Minister of Social Security and Labour

The Tripartite Council, representing the government, employers and trade unions, agreed that the monthly minimum wage should be increased from January 2024, but failed to agree on the amount