Vilnius, November 25 (ELTA) – Minister of Foreign Affairs Kęstutis Budrys attended the European Union’s Foreign Affairs Council (Trade) meeting in Brussels on Monday. EU foreign and trade ministers reviewed the EU’s ongoing trade negotiations, including EU-China and EU-US trade relations, as well as the strengthening of Europe’s economic security and key issues in trade policy implementation, reports the Foreign Ministry.

During the discussion on the progress across the EU’s network of ongoing bilateral trade negotiations, Minister Budrys stressed that in the face of geopolitical challenges, the EU must accelerate the diversification of trade relations and strive for ambitious trade agreements.

“We must strengthen cooperation with India, the Southeast Asia region, and other partners. Updating the DCFTA agreement with Ukraine is a crucial step, while further expanding tariffs on Russia and Belarus is an essential measure to maintain pressure on the aggressors,” said the minister.

As regards the EU-China trade relations, the minister highlighted China’s export controls on rare earth elements and their impact on the EU’s economic security.

“China’s industrial policy is focused on technological dominance, and it uses export controls as an instrument of economic pressure. The EU must act decisively by accelerating the diversification of supply chains, strengthening coordination with like-minded partners, and ensuring the effective application of economic security measures. It is also necessary to address the sanitary and phytosanitary restrictions that still apply to Lithuania,” the minister noted.

Regarding trade relations with the US, Minister Budrys expressed support for the EU-US framework trade agreement and stressed the need to ensure its smooth implementation.

“We need to push the US to expand tariff exemptions for strategically important products and find a long-term solution for steel and aluminium tariffs. A strong transatlantic partnership remains a cornerstone of Europe’s economic security,” he said.

In the Council meeting, Lithuania also informed about the ongoing Belarusian hybrid attacks and called on the EU institutions and member states to clearly identify these actions as a hybrid attack. Lithuania called for additional restrictive measures and a principled European response to Belarus’ continued actions.

Vilnius, November 25 (ELTA) – Last weekend, numerous meteorological balloons smuggling cigarettes flew from Belarus to Lithuania disrupting operations of Vilnius Airport. Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė will convene a sitting of the National Security Commission on Thursday to address the continuing problem.

Prime Minister’s Adviser Ignas Dobrovolskas confirmed the upcoming meeting to the news agency ELTA.

A day earlier, the head of Government said the Commission would discuss potential response to the Belarusian regime’s actions. Ruginienė did not rule out closing the border with Belarus once again if the situation does not improve.

As reported, meteo balloons flying from Belarus towards Vilnius Airport were detected on radars last weekend and, as a result, the airport had to be closed twice on Sunday night.

In October, Vilnius Airport was closed several times while Kaunas Airport was closed once due to weather balloons from Belarus. Lithuania deems this to be a Belarusian hybrid attack and on 29 October announced closure of the border with Belarus until 30 November.

However, Minsk retaliated by prohibiting Lithuanian-registered trucks from leaving the country.

The Lithuanian Government later stated that the situation with meteo balloons somewhat improved and decided to reopen the border on 19 November, but Lithuanian trucks still are not allowed to leave the neighbouring country.

Vilnius, November 25 (ELTA) – Several hundred statutory officers staged a protest called “Paper Security” outside the Seimas on Tuesday, accusing the ruling parties of failing to provide adequate funding for law enforcement agencies. Police officers, border guards, firefighters and environmental protection staff gathered in Vilnius say low pay and poor conditions were driving colleagues out of the system.

Protesters displayed paper cut-outs to symbolise vacant posts and carried signs warning of the consequences of understaffing, including “If there are fewer environmental protection officers, there will be more dumps!” and “A shortage of 1,000 firefighters in 11 years has become the norm.”

Ineta Kursevičienė, head of the National Confederation of Officers’ Trade Unions (NPPSS), said the Government’s planned pay rise for officers next year was far too small.

“When an officer’s salary is promised to increase by EUR 8 next year, it is a sad kind of laughter,” she told ELTA, adding that some officers earn less than EUR 1,000 after tax.

She criticised the Interior Ministry’s plan to offer large bonuses to long-serving officers, saying it left out younger staff who, she argued, carry much of the workload. 

“Those with 23–25 years of service are promised EUR 300–400 extra. Others will only get about EUR 8,” she said. Kursevičienė added that firefighters in some regions earn EUR 800–900 a month.

Firefighter and rescuer Pijus Juškėnas told the crowd he could not afford to start a family.

“I earn EUR 900 a month. That is already after a raise – I did not earn that much before,” he said.

Border guard union leader Jevgenijus Amelinas said his service had been crucial during recent national emergencies, from the pandemic to the migrant influx and ongoing smuggling attempts from Belarus. 

“None of us has ever said ‘I will not come’ or ‘I will leave,’” he said. “But year after year, we face the government’s unwillingness to understand that security officers are as important as the army.”

The head of the Environmental Protection Employees’ Trade Union (AASDP), Vaidas Laukys, argued that his sector was being neglected despite government pledges to strengthen it. 

“Not everyone earns EUR 1,000,” he said. “An analysis shows that 97% of environmental officials earn less than the average wage.”

As earlier reported, the draft budget earmarks EUR 24.1 million for raising wages of firefighters, police officers, border guards, prison and probation staff, as well as customs employees. The average net monthly pay is estimated to rise by about EUR 110, or 5%.

In total, the Government plans to allocate EUR 1.07 billion to the internal affairs system next year. Trade unions, however, argue that the amount reserved for wage increases has been reduced by roughly EUR 30 million compared to earlier expectations and that statutory institutions face a funding shortfall of more than EUR 150 million.

Vilnius, November 25 (ELTA) – Smugglers have attempted to send contraband-laden balloons into Lithuania from Russia’s Kaliningrad region, in addition to launches from neighbouring Belarus, according to border officials.

Rustamas Liubajevas, head of the State Border Guard Service (VSAT), said several incidents had been detected involving balloons flown from Kaliningrad.

“People even came to collect the cargo. The same groups are operating as those active in eastern Lithuania,” he told reporters in the Seimas on Tuesday.

One case was recorded at the end of the summer, he said, with activity increasing again since 18 November. 

Although the number of such cases remains small, Liubajevas said all had been identified through criminal-intelligence methods and that those sent to recover the goods had been tracked and detained.

Vilnius, November 25 (ELTA) – A dangerous level of snowfall is forecast in many regions of the country on Wednesday night, said the Lithuanian Hydrometeorological Service (LHMT).

According to meteorologist Vytautas Patašius, a southern cyclone will bring significant snowfall, freezing rain and snow accretion.

More than 10 centimetres of snow is expected in southern, central and eastern parts of Lithuania on Wednesday, which could reach 15 centimetres by Thursday.

Heavy snow will make driving conditions difficult. People are advised to postpone nonessential travel for at least two days due to freezing rain and snow accretion.

Weather conditions should improve by Friday, said the LGMT.

Some residents on Tuesday received emergency warning messages on their smartphones about the upcoming weather conditions.

Vilnius, November 25 (ELTA) – On Tuesday, 25 November, a fire occurred in the territory of the decommissioned Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) but was soon localised, stated the Fire and Rescue Department (PAGD).

According to PAGD, fire broke out in one of the lowest risk class buildings in the NPP’s territory.

A call about it was received at 4:37 p.m. and firefighters arrived at the scene at 4:40 p.m.

Nine people were evacuated from the building and nobody was hurt. The fire was localised at 5:05 p.m. Fire extinguishing and safety measures continued afterwards.

PAGD notes that the incident does not have any impact on radiation safety. Radiation hazard has not been detected. On-site measurements of background radiation levels were conducted but the results did not exceed the established indicators.

Measurements will continue to be taken and equipment of firefighters working at the site will be checked.

The Radiation Protection Centre (RSC) stated that there is no danger for people or the environment.

Background radiation levels are monitored by the Radiation Early Warning System (RADIS) available on RSC website.

Vilnius, November 25 (ELTA) – On 25 November, at the margins of the African Union – European Union Summit in Luanda, deputy minister of foreign affairs of Lithuania, Vidmantas Verbickas met with secretary of state for external relations of the Republic of Angola, Esmeralda Bravo Conde da Silva Mendonça to discuss prospects for strengthening bilateral political dialogue, economic cooperation, educational exchanges, and people-to-people contacts.

Both sides affirmed their commitment to further develop the partnership and explore new areas of cooperation, reports the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Verbickas invited the secretary of state of Angola to visit Lithuania and proposed holding bilateral political consultations in the near future. He also thanked for a visa-free regime for citizens of Lithuania and discussed the possibility of simplifying the issuance of visas to holders of diplomatic passports.

The interlocutors also exchanged views on how to strengthen economic cooperation. The volume of bilateral trade in 2024 amounted to about 20 million euros. Lithuania sees potential to diversify and expand this figure. Opportunities for strengthening cooperation between the seaports of Klaipėda and Luanda were also considered.

The deputy minister underlined that Lithuania was reviewing its development cooperation policies, paying more attention to African states under the Global Gateway initiative. Lithuania is ready to share its experience in the areas of e-government, digitalisation, cybersecurity, the fight against disinformation, and information technology. According to the secretary of state of Angola, education is one of the country’s priorities. She expressed interest in study and academic exchange opportunities.

The conversation also covered the international security situation, including Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the need to defend the principles of the UN Charter and the rules-based international order.

Vilnius, November 25 (ELTA) – On the night from Monday to Tuesday, a Russian missile strike damaged a logistics centre in Ukraine that is owned by Lithuanian capital company Novus, reports business news website Verslo žinios (vz.lt).

Four drivers, who had arrived to unload goods, were killed in the attack and five other people were wounded.

According to the news website, the logistics centre is currently non-operational. Emergency services are working at the site.

Gintautas Pavalkis, CEO of Consul Trade House, the company which owns Novus, says the strike damaged the main warehouse that distributes the majority of goods.

The Russian Defence Ministry confirmed the strike on Novus warehouse in Kyiv’s Sviatoshynskyi District.

Vilnius, November 25 (ELTA) – Investment company Eika Asset Management (EAM) has launched a new closed-end fund – KŪB Partnership Fund II – intended for informed investors. The fund‘s primary investment focus is the development of multi-apartment residential projects in Vilnius and targets an average annual return of 13–15%. Its establishment has been approved by the Bank of Lithuania, EAM said in a press release.

“The main investment targets of the fund are residential projects in Vilnius where commercial and service premises complement living spaces. Although EAM has actively expanded its fund investments throughout Central Europe and Germany in recent years, investments in Lithuania remain an important part of our focus. The residential real estate market in Vilnius continues to be highly attractive for investors,” says Andrius Uždavinys, CEO of EAM. 

According to Uždavinys, Vilnius continues to impress many international partners with its rapid growth, making real estate investments in the capital not only financially sound, but also a strategic investment in the city’s future. 

“EAM fund investments in real estate projects are not simply investments in another building. They represent a stable source of returns for investors and a meaningful contribution to the urban and economic development of Lithuania’s capital,” he emphasizes. He notes that Vilnius remains one of the fastest-growing cities in the region, thus providing strong long-term value and growth potential for investors. 

KŪB Partnership Fund II is the seventh investment fund to be established by Eika Asset Management. It will begin its investment activity with the acquisition of a residential development project in the Kalnėnai district of Vilnius. A new mid-market housing project is set to launch there next year. Over five years and across four stages, more than 473 apartments will be made available on the market. The total project value is nearly EUR 60 million. 

The appointed fund manager is Gediminas Tamašauskas, Head of Capital Markets at EAM, who has worked at the company for over two years. His portfolio of achievements includes signing financing agreements with top-tier international banks in several jurisdictions, including Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Slovakia and the United Kingdom. He has also initiated several bond issuances, including one listed on the main Nasdaq regulated market. 

KŪB Partnership Fund II is another strategic step in EAM’s growth, reinforcing its long-term investment focus on Vilnius. EAM-managed funds invest in both Lithuania and other countries, primarily in Central and Eastern Europe.

Vilnius, November 25 (ELTA) – The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has adopted a ruling requiring the EU Member States to recognise same-sex marriage concluded in other countries. Lithuania’s Ministry of Justice however notes that the judgement does not require legalising same-sex marriage in national law.

“The Court stressed that this does not mean that national law must provide for same-sex marriage. The Court reiterated that marital law falls within the competence of Member States. Moreover, Member States have the discretion to choose procedures for recognising such marriages,” the Justice Ministry told the news agency ELTA in a comment.

Justice Minister Rita Tamašunienė says it depends on the Lithuanian Parliament how same-sex relations will be defined and what rights and duties same-sex partners will have.

The Seimas is yet to pass a law on gender neutral partnership, but couples may go to court to have their partnership recognised.

The CJEU heard a case of two Polish citizens married in Germany who requested their marriage certificate to be included in the Polish civil register and their marriage to be recognised in Poland.

The CJEU judged that Member States “are required to recognise, for the purpose of the exercise of the rights conferred by EU law, the marital status lawfully acquired in another Member State”.

However, the Court emphasises that this obligation does not require marriage between same-sex individuals to be introduced under domestic law.

Vilnius, November 25 (ELTA) – Lithuanian Airports (LTOU) has officially opened the newly expanded Kaunas Airport terminal. As of 21 November, following a major development project, all primary passenger terminal areas are now fully accessible. The airport’s capacity has doubled from 400 to 800 passengers per hour, enabling Kaunas Airport to comfortably and efficiently serve 2 million passengers annually, LTOU reports.

The opening event was attended by Prime Minister of Lithuania Inga Ruginienė, Minister of Transport and Communications Juras Taminskas, representatives of Lithuanian Airports, Kaunas district municipality and other institutions.

Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė stated that the expansion is not only an investment in infrastructure but also in people, strengthening economic opportunities, boosting tourism growth and improving comfort for every traveller.

Minister of Transport and Communications Juras Taminskas highlighted that the expansion means less stress and more convenience for travellers, with additional boarding gates, check-in counters, service desks, faster baggage claim and shorter queues. According to him, Kaunas Airport is entering a new phase and raising the bar for the entire Lithuanian Airports network.

With the completion of major construction works, both arrivals and departures areas have been significantly expanded. The total terminal area has increased more than one and a half times, reaching about 4,400 square meters. Kaunas Airport now operates six boarding gates, up from four, increasing the airport’s capacity to handle up to six passenger flights per hour.

The airport is now more spacious and convenient for passengers: the check-in area has been expanded, additional check-in desks installed, both Schengen and non-Schengen zones enlarged, new waiting, dining and shopping spaces created, and baggage claim areas expanded. Car rental services have been moved inside the terminal, and two baggage claim belts are now in operation, compared to just one previously.

The construction works began in spring 2024 and were carried out by the contracting company Infes. The contract value amounts to 17.7 million euros (excluding VAT).

According to Simonas Bartkus, CEO of Lithuanian Airports (LTOU), record passenger flows in Kaunas have long exceeded the terminal’s previous capacity. The completed reconstruction will allow the airport to efficiently serve much larger passenger volumes and provide a higher-quality travel experience. He emphasised that the modernised airport strengthens Kaunas’ role as a key transport and logistics hub in the region and is aligned with the long-term development plan that runs until 2052.

During the expansion project, special attention was given to technology upgrades essential for increasing capacity and efficiency, including baggage handling and screening systems. Approximately 4.5 million euros (excluding VAT) were invested in these systems alone.

Passenger records expected

Simonas Bartkus revealed that in 2025 Kaunas is expected to reach a record 1.6 million passengers, while the long-term goal is to achieve 2 million passengers within the next three years, in line with the planned growth trajectory.

At the presentation event under the theme “We Grew Big,” a basketball court installed inside the terminal was revealed – a symbolic feature representing the uniqueness of Kaunas Airport and Lithuania’s passion for basketball.

Part of the terminal areas had already opened earlier

The reconstruction was carried out by Infes, which expanded the terminal building in both directions, adding new eastern and western sections. All three levels of the terminal were upgraded. After opening the terminal to passengers, the contractor continues internal finishing works.

Before completion of the full project, several areas on the ground floor had already been opened, including the Narvesen convenience store and Katpėdėlė restaurant, as well as the Duty Free zone. The expanded check-in hall and the Charlie Pizza restaurant in the Schengen departures lounge are also now open.

Modernisation work at the P4 parking area was completed this summer. The area has been expanded to nearly 10,000 square meters, offering more than 370 parking spaces, including 14 electric vehicle charging points and 14 spaces for passengers with disabilities.

A new multi-storey car park is also under construction and expected to open in summer 2026, with capacity for over 900 vehicles, including 100 spaces for people with special needs and additional EV charging stations.

Kaunas strengthens its position in the international airport network

Simonas Bartkus noted that the development of infrastructure goes hand in hand with growing partnerships. Next spring, airBaltic will launch a new direct route from Kaunas to Riga, ensuring convenient connections to Latvia’s capital nearly every day.

With this new route and the existing 28 direct destinations, connecting flights via Riga will significantly improve access to Kaunas from across Europe.

These developments demonstrate that Kaunas Airport is becoming an increasingly important part of Lithuania’s airport network, offering travellers more choice and better connections. Higher passenger flows will generate direct and indirect economic benefits for the region, while improved accessibility contributes to a higher quality of life.