Vilnius, September 7 (ELTA) – On Friday, President Gitanas Nausėda received Mihai Popșoi, deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs of the Republic of Moldova. The meeting focused on Moldova’s integration into the European Union, further progress in the accession process, and Lithuania’s support for the country, reports the presidency.

“Lithuania strongly supports Moldova’s European choice and its aspiration to become a member of the European Union. Our goal is for Moldova and Ukraine to move forward as quickly as possible,” the president pointed out.

Gitanas Nausėda noted that European Union enlargement will be one of the key priorities of the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2027. Lithuania will seek to use its six-month Presidency to achieve concrete progress in Moldova’s accession process while strengthening relations between the EU and Moldova.

The discussion also addressed the threats posed by Russia and the security situation in the region. The president emphasized that Russia’s attempts to influence Moldova have to be taken seriously. Lithuania will continue to provide practical support for Moldova to strengthen its resilience and security.

From 2022 to 2025, Lithuania’s bilateral development cooperation assistance to Moldova amounted to EUR 7.56 million, while from 2026 to 2028, Lithuania’s military assistance to Moldova will total EUR 6 million. Lithuanian authorities will also implement a EUR 120 million support package for Moldova’s air defense.

Vilnius, September 7 (ELTA) – A drone operator training centre, Airtech, has been opened in Panevėžys, northern Lithuania, where young people will be able to learn how to operate, build and programme unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the local municipality has announced.

“Practical skills gained here may become the first step towards studies and a profession in aviation, engineering or technology. It is important that young people would find such opportunities here, in their hometown,” Director of Panevėžys Municipal Administration Giedrius Šileika said in a statement.

According to the municipality, school students at the new centre will be able to learn about the principles of drone operation and control, build and programme drones, and solder electronic components. This way, young people will gain insight into the world of aviation, engineering and technology, and acquire new technical skills.

Around 300 young people are expected to be trained each year in the space established at the Panevėžys regional STEAM open access centre.

Panevėžys has become the seventh Lithuanian city where Airtech drone training is carried out. Such centres already operate in Jonava, Tauragė, Kėdainiai, Klaipėda, Plungė and Ukmergė.

Vilnius, September 7 (ELTA) – Vilnius city will renovate one of its key symbols, the Three Crosses monument, Vilnius City Municipality has announced.

According to the municipality, the work will include cleaning the monument’s surface, as well as carrying out refurbishment and repainting.

The renovation is expected to be completed within a month, although the exact duration may be affected by weather conditions and the progress of the work.

During the renovation, the area will not be closed, so visitors will still be able to access the nearby panoramic viewing platform.

However, the municipality notes that it will not be possible to approach the monument itself – the work area will be cordoned off with protective tape to ensure the safety of both visitors and workers.

In recent years, the Three Crosses monument has only undergone occasional minor maintenance, but its surface has not been refurbished in a comprehensive manner.

Vilnius, September 5 (ELTA) – The State Border Guard Service (VSAT) reports that it prevented 4 illegal border crossing attempts from Belarus in the last three days, on 4–6 September.

Lithuanian border guards stopped 2 irregular migrants on Friday, did not detect any migrants at the border with Belarus on Saturday and again stopped 2 migrants on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Latvia turned back seven migrants attempting to enter the country from Belarus on Friday, 25 on Saturday, and 19 on Sunday.

Poland’s Border Guard did not detect irregular migrants last Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

So far this year, the VSAT has prevented 1,394 migrants from crossing the border from Belarus to Lithuania. The figure stood at 1,652 at the end of 2025.

Since the start of the migrant crisis orchestrated by Belarus in 2021, Lithuania has thwarted a total of 26,008 illegal border crossing attempts.

Vilnius, September 7 (ELTA) – Investment management company Eika Asset Management (EAM) has completed a transaction in Riga, selling a four-building complex with a total area of more than 9,000 sq m to SIA Adoro Properties. EAM had planned to develop a co-living project at the property. As part of its active portfolio management strategy, EAM plans to focus its capital on logistics, manufacturing and commercial real estate projects in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), which currently offer stronger growth potential, the company said in a press release.

EAM launched the Riga investment in 2024 through Eika Co-Living Fund, which focuses on the development of co-living projects. The acquired four-building complex was intended to be transformed into a modern co-living development comprising more than 250 high-quality apartments, modern common areas, as well as administrative and service spaces. The design and permitting process took almost two years. During this period, both accommodation sector trends in Riga and investment opportunities in other European real estate markets evolved.

“The role of a real estate investment manager is not to stick to the original investment scenario at any cost. We must continuously assess the market and make decisions that can create the greatest value for investors at any given time. We see the accommodation market evolving, with co-living developers exploring new operating models and ways to adapt to changing customer needs. At the same time, we currently see greater potential in logistics, manufacturing and other commercial real estate segments in Central and Eastern Europe,” says Andrius Uždavinys, CEO of EAM.

Seeking greater opportunities in CEE markets

According to Uždavinys, EAM is seeing growing investor interest in opportunities in Lithuania and the other Baltic states. However, for an investment manager, it is important to look beyond the local market and consider the broader Central and Eastern European context.

“The Baltic market remains important to us, and we continue to see investment opportunities here. However, in terms of scale, the Baltics represent a relatively small share of the overall CEE investment market. To offer investors broader diversification opportunities, a larger pipeline of potential transactions and access to larger assets, we are naturally also looking towards the region’s major economies,” says the EAM CEO.

The Central and Eastern European real estate market will continue to play an important role in EAM’s strategy. The company will focus primarily on logistics, manufacturing and other commercial real estate projects where it sees long-term growth potential, sustainable income streams and opportunities to create value through active asset management.

“Capital should be deployed where we see the best risk-return profile and opportunities for long-term value creation. For us, active portfolio management means not only acquiring new assets, but also having the ability to exit investments at the right time and redeploy capital towards more promising opportunities. This is the direction we will continue to pursue,” says Uždavinys.

Vilnius, September 4 (ELTA) – On Friday, Finance Minister Taurimas Valys met with Andreea Moraru, EBRD executive director for Central Europe, and Ahmad El Mokadem, the Bank’s new head of the Baltic States, reports the Ministry of Finance.

EBRD investment in Lithuania is growing. In 2025, the Bank invested a record €339.5 million in 17 projects in Lithuania. Amid a challenging geopolitical environment and growing security challenges in the region, the EBRD’s role in Lithuania remains crucial. Its investments strengthen investor confidence and economic resilience while helping mobilise private capital for strategically important projects.

The meeting also focused on the draft EBRD Country Strategy for Lithuania for 2027–2031. Lithuania welcomes its key priorities: deepening capital markets, developing innovative financing solutions, strengthening energy security, financing infrastructure and attracting private capital.

With ILTE now operating as Lithuania’s national development bank, there is significant potential to deepen cooperation with the EBRD by leveraging the Bank’s expertise, innovative financing instruments and joint initiatives to attract investment.

Vilnius, September 4 (ELTA) – On Friday in Vilnius, Minister of Foreign Affairs Kęstutis Budrys met with Moldova’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mihai Popșoi.

The interlocutors discussed Moldova’s progress in EU accession talks and Lithuania’s role in this regard once it assumes the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2027.

At a press conference, Budrys said that Lithuania would seek to accelerate Moldova’s EU membership process and expressed hope that the remaining negotiation clusters would be opened before the start of Lithuania’s EU Presidency.

The head of Lithuania’s diplomacy said that Lithuania would strive to achieve as much progress as possible in the EU accession process for Moldova and Ukraine, adhering to the merit-based principle of EU enlargement.

He noted that two out of six clusters in Moldova’s accession talks have been opened, while Lithuania is actively striving to accelerate this process.

In turn, Mr Popșoi stated that Moldova has a unique opportunity to accelerate the EU integration process and expects Lithuania’s support during its EU Presidency.

The heads of diplomacy also discussed regional security and Russia’s hybrid threats, support for Ukraine and its energy sector, and preparation for winter.

Budrys also noted that Lithuania sees opportunities to expand cooperation with Moldova in the defence industry and in the field of dual‑use technologies.

Popșoi thanked Lithuania for its support in strengthening Moldova’s resilience in the areas of security, defence, the economy and society.

Vilnius, September 4 (ELTA) – The Lithuanian prime minister stresses that the country’s infrastructure must not be used for the export of Russian grain. This week, the Lithuanian Grain Processors and Traders’ Association (LGPP) announced that Russian grain is being handled at the Port of Klaipėda.

“Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius’ position is clear: Lithuania’s infrastructure cannot and will not be used for the export of Russian grain. The prime minister is working closely with the Ministry of Transport. The relevant services are gathering information, and a decision will be made in the near future on whether further measures are needed,” prime minister’s spokesman Gedas Salyga told the news agency ELTA on Friday.

ELTA has learned from Algis Latakas, the head of the Klaipėda State Seaport Authority, that the Port of Klaipėda has handled 47,000 tonnes of Russian origin grain in the first 8 months of 2026. This mostly accounts for maize, transported by rail from the Kaliningrad Region to Klaipėda.

According to him, these are unsanctioned cargoes, which the port has no right to stop. However, he says the amount of such products is decreasing each year as additional sanctions are imposed.

Meanwhile, Minister of Transport and Communications Juras Taminskas told ELTA that the situation is unacceptable. He instructed the state-owned Lithuanian Railways Group (LTG) to clarify all the circumstances behind the freight of Russian grain.

According to the Grain Processors and Traders’ Association, due to attacks on ships in the Black Sea, Russia has found a way to shift exports from the Black Sea to the Baltic Sea.

Head of the association, Karolis Šimas, says the attitude of Lithuanian and Latvian institutions to Russian grain export is superficial. He says Latvian ports are the biggest “Achilles’ heel” in the Baltics as they can in theory export 7–8 million tonnes of grain, but the actual figure is closer to 5 million tonnes.

Vilnius, September 4 (ELTA) – Minister of Energy and Environment Andres Sutt hosted the first Nordic-Baltic (NB8) Energy Ministers’ Meeting in Tallinn on 3–4 September, bringing together the energy ministers and senior representatives of the Nordic and Baltic countries. The meeting, which included a Ukrainian delegation in its initial discussions, focused on supporting Ukraine’s energy supply ahead of the coming winter, the resilience of critical energy infrastructure, and the development of a competitive Nordic-Baltic energy market, reports the Ministry of Energy.

Sutt noted that the closely interconnected energy systems of the Nordic-Baltic countries also require stronger cooperation: “Energy security in our region today is no longer just about whether we have enough electricity, but also whether our infrastructure can withstand potential attacks and how quickly we can restore energy supply in the event of disruptions. Our energy systems are becoming increasingly interconnected, and therefore we also need to approach our preparedness and cooperation at the regional level”.

With regard to Ukraine’s energy supply, the focus was primarily on the coming winter. Russia’s continued attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure are making the winter extremely challenging, and the meeting looked at ways to support the resilience of Ukraine’s energy supply and coordinate assistance from the countries. The long-term recovery of Ukraine’s energy sector was also discussed, as well as preparations in the energy sector for the Ukraine Recovery Conference to be held in Tallinn in January 2027.

“As we mobilize aid for Ukraine, we must not forget Ukraine’s invaluable experience. The ongoing war has taught Ukraine how to protect its energy infrastructure, ensure its operational continuity, and restore energy supplies to residents and critical facilities as quickly as possible. We must draw these invaluable lessons from the Ukrainians and use them to protect the infrastructure our countries from potential threats,” said Lukas Savickas, Minister of Energy of the Republic of Lithuania. 

Alongside regional energy security, the focus was on protecting energy infrastructure in the Baltic Sea region and ensuring the resilience of energy systems. The region’s energy infrastructure is becoming increasingly interconnected, while incidents in the Baltic Sea region have demonstrated the need to strengthen preparedness for physical, cyber and hybrid threats. The meeting provided an opportunity to exchange experiences and explore ways to strengthen the resilience of regional energy infrastructure and cross-border cooperation. 

“Today's discussion highlighted the value of Nordic-Baltic cooperation in strengthening regional preparedness and resilience. Together, we form one of Europe's most integrated energy regions,” said Sari Multala, Minister of Climate and the Environment of Finland. 

With regard to a competitive Baltic Sea energy market, the discussions focused on investment and financing opportunities and creating long-term certainty. The discussion also covered developments in electricity demand and generation, grid development, and the need to improve the transparency and predictability of the regional energy market. 

The meeting confirmed the Nordic-Baltic countries’ shared commitment to strengthening energy cooperation and finding regional solutions to challenges related to energy security, resilience and competitiveness. In connection with the meeting, the Nordic-Baltic countries also issued a Joint Statement on Energy Cooperation.

Vilnius, September 4 (ELTA) – Nearly a fortnight after the storm that hit Lithuania on 22 September, around 2,500 households are still without power, stated electricity and gas distribution company Energijos skirstymo operatorius (ESO).

According to the company, electricity supply has been restored to 99 percent of the affected customers.

The majority of those still without power are in Utena region, where 100 teams are working in Utena, Anykščiai, Radviliškis, Zarasai, Molėtai, and Visaginas areas to restore power supply.

In some areas, overhead power lines will not be restored but temporary technical solutions will be used instead. Later, the power lines will be placed underground.

Meanwhile, Kazlų Rūda municipality announced on Thursday that it has lifted the state of emergency having dealt with the consequences of the storm.

As reported, one person died and four were injured during the storm on 22 August. 

Initially, by Saturday night of 22 August, 268,000 households were left without power as 11,000 faults were reported in the grid.

The Government declared a nationwide state of emergency due to the consequences of the storm and the losses incurred by farmers.

Insurers have registered more than 14,000 claims with estimated damage amounting to EUR 13 million.