Vilnius, September 1 (ELTA) – President Gitanas Nausėda trusts Marija Jakubauskienė and sees her continuing in the position of health minister, his adviser has said.

Nausėda met with the acting health minister on Monday as part of his series of meetings with the candidates proposed for ministers by Prime Minister-designate Inga Ruginienė.

“In the president’s opinion, there is already trust in the minister. The minister’s extensive work proves this. This work is continuous,” the chief economic adviser to President Gitanas Nausėda, Vaidas Augustinavičius, told reporters in the Presidential Palace.

“So far, the results have not been visible, as not all laws have been passed. The minister is also planning new initiatives. It is very important that the candidate plans to measure her initiatives in quantitative terms – how much queues for family doctors and specialists would be reduced, how much mortality would decrease,” he said.

In the meeting, President Nausėda focussed on long waiting queues at medical institutions and the availability of healthcare services in the regions, according to the adviser. 

Before joining the Gintautas Paluckas-led Government in December 2024, Jakubauskienė was the director of the Institute of Health Sciences at Vilnius University.

President Nausėda has already met with six of Ruginienė’s candidates for 14 ministers. 

Within 15 days after her appointment, the prime minister-designate has to present to the Seimas the new Cabinet of Ministers approved by the president. The Government gains powers when the Seimas votes and approves its programme.

Vilnius, September 1 (ELTA) – President Gitanas Nausėda met with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, at the Lithuania–Belarus border on Monday to review the border security situation. At their bilateral meeting, the leaders discussed the protection of the European Union’s eastern frontier and support for Ukraine, the president’s office reported.

The president thanked the Commission president for her visit, stressing that it is a powerful sign of solidarity: “Your presence here shows that Lithuania’s security is the security of the entire European Union.”

During the meeting, the president highlighted the shared commitment to defend the EU’s eastern border and to strengthen Europe’s overall resilience. “Lithuania, together with Latvia, Estonia, Finland, and Poland, stands at the forefront of these efforts. Our mission is both urgent and long-term: to deter threats, enhance resilience and ensure the security of Europe’s borders,” he said.

President Nausėda underlined that the Baltic Defence Line and the Eastern Shield are projects of common European interest. He noted that the region faces real threats: hostile drone attacks, hybrid operations and constant pressure from illegal migration at the border.

“The SAFE instrument provides us with the tools to respond to these threats. Lithuania’s estimated needs amount to about 8 billion euros – investments that will strengthen our defence, help implement the Baltic Defence Line and contribute to supporting Ukraine,” Nausėda emphasised.

The importance of military mobility was also stressed, with the aim of ensuring the swift movement of troops and equipment across EU territory. The president welcomed the Commission’s proposal to increase funding for this area in the next multiannual financial framework.

The situation in Ukraine was also discussed. The president underlined the need to strengthen military support and tighten sanctions against Russia, noting that the 19th sanctions package must target sectors such as Rosatom, energy, banking, and the shadow fleet. “Security guarantees must be credible: a strong Ukrainian army together with significant European and transatlantic commitment,” he said.

Nausėda emphasised that Ukraine’s membership in the European Union is both a strategic necessity and a moral obligation. “2030 must be the target year for Ukraine’s EU membership,” he noted.

Vilnius, September 1 (ELTA) – European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen says Europe stands together with Lithuania and other European Union (EU) countries bordering Russia and Belarus as she visited a border post with Belarus on Monday. 

“Today Europe fully stands with Lithuania as a frontline state. You face Russia in Kaliningrad, you face Belarus on your border, you live under dual geopolitical and economic pressure, as well as constant military and hybrid threats,” Von der Leyen told a joint press conference with President Gitanas Nausėda in Medininkai. 

“I heard that last month two drones crossed your border with Belarus. All in all, let me reassure you that as Lithuania is being tested, Europe as a whole is being tested. We are with you in all possible ways,” she stated.

The EC president reiterated her announcement made on Sunday in Poland that the new long-term EU budget would provide additional funding for member states bordering Russia and Belarus.

“Looking at the next long-term European budget, we have proposed to triple investment in migration and border protection – a strong focus on this topic. We want that member states with a direct border with Russia and Belarus would also receive additional European funding,” Von der Leyen said, highlighting that Europe’s border are a shared responsibility.

Despite that the future EU budget and the funds allocated to frontline states are still under negotiation, the EU chief noted that the EU had made a significant contribution to Lithuania's border protection. She recalled that the EU had contributed to the financing of surveillance systems installed at the border and had allocated funds for the implementation of visa and migration policy. However, the politician acknowledged that action must be taken now.

“We have to act now already. We have two instruments (...) – the SAFE instrument and budgetary flexibility, we call it the national escape clause,” Von der Leyen said.  

The EC president’s visit to Lithuania is part of an ongoing tour of seven EU border states. The series of meetings with country leaders is said to be intended to emphasise Brussels’ support for member states facing challenges posed by neighbouring Russia and Belarus.

Von der Leyen began her trips on Friday with a stop in Latvia. On Saturday, her tour continued to Estonia and Finland, followed by Poland and Bulgaria on Sunday.

She is scheduled to head to Romania from Lithuania on Monday afternoon.

Vilnius, September 1 (ELTA) – Lithuanian diplomat Raimundas Karoblis, former national defence minister, has been named the European Union’s (EU) new ambassador to Pakistan, lrt.lt news website reported Monday.

Last weekend, the EU’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas, announced the appointments of five senior managers at the European External Action Service (EEAS) as well as the appointments of 36 heads of delegation and two Deputy Heads of Delegation of the European Union. On Sunday, the appointments of five senior officials of the European External Action Service (EEAS), as well as 36 heads of EU delegations and two deputy heads of delegations were announced.

Karoblis is currently serving as the EU ambassador to Tajikistan.

The latest appoints also included another Lithuanian name – Gediminas Navickas was appointed as the deputy head of delegation to Ukraine. He has previously served as head of the Policy Coordination Division and head of the EEAS Secretary General’s Office.

In 2020, when the Saulius Skvernelis-led Government ended its term, Karoblis, like former minister Linas Linkevičius, was not appointed to any embassies of major importance to Lithuania. Reports based on sources said back then that Karoblis was a contender for the post of Lithuania’s permanent representative to the EU. However, it was blocked by President Gitanas Nausėda, who argued that ministers of the former government needed a “political cooling-off period.”

Vilnius, September 1 (ELTA) – Acting Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys is attending an informal meeting of foreign ministers of the European Union in Copenhagen on Monday, the ministry reports.

“We all understand that the red carpet will not bring Putin to negotiations. We must create unbearable conditions for the aggressor that would force him to sit down at the negotiating table and talk about lasting peace in Ukraine,” Budrys told reporters ahead of the meeting.

The minister stressed the need to take measures in support of Ukraine and its military capabilities, as well as to reduce the resources of Russia’s war machine.

“Lithuania proposes to seize frozen Russian assets. We are offering several legal solutions on how to do this, because we understand the risks involved. We are not ignoring them, but risks are to be managed, not avoided,” said the head of Lithuania’s diplomacy.

Budrys stressed that using Russia’s frozen assets would help Ukraine grow stronger, recover, and restore what the aggressor had destroyed. Minister Budrys also called for increasing sanctions on Russia, its oil and gas companies, and banks, as well as further lowering the price cap on Russian oil and restricting the activities of the shadow fleet.

Vilnius, September 1 (ELTA) – Fashion retailer Apranga Group said Monday its retail turnover (including VAT) totalled EUR 37.7 million in August 2025, an increase by 21.2% compared to August 2024, It was a record-breaking and the highest monthly turnover in the group’s history.

The high turnover growth was driven by an attractive autumn season collection and favourable weather conditions.

In January–August 2025, the retail turnover (including VAT) of the Apranga Group totaled EUR 234.6 million, increasing by 5.2% year-on-year.

In January–August 2025, compared to the corresponding period of 2024, the Apranga Group network turnover increased by 7.4% in Lithuania, increased by 4.4 % in Latvia, and decreased by -1.8% in Estonia.

Apranga Group currently operates the chain of 168 stores (102 in Lithuania, 42 in Latvia and 24 in Estonia) covering the gross area of 91.9 thousand square metres, or by 0.7% more than a year ago.

Vilnius, September 1 (ELTA) – On 30 August in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, which currently holds the presidency of the EU Council, EU foreign ministers gathered for informal discussions on using frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine, tightening sanctions against Russia, stopping the shadow fleet, and providing security guarantees and support for Ukraine, the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry reported.

In an informal discussion, Acting Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys, presented Lithuania’s proposals on using Russia’s frozen central bank assets for Ukraine, suggestions on the 19th sanctions package, and the beginning of Ukraine’s EU accession negotiations.

“The only way forward is not just to maintain but to increase pressure on Russia by breaking its war financing mechanisms. We will achieve this only by tightening sanctions on Russia’s strategic sectors through which the Kremlin finances its aggression, including gas and oil exports, the shadow fleet, the banking and financial sectors, and other areas that strengthen the aggressor’s military capabilities,” the minister said.

Lithuania’s proposal for the 19th package of EU sanctions includes a total ban on exporting dual-use and high-tech products to Russia. It proposes further lowering the global oil price cap, sanctioning four major gas and oil companies — Lukoil, Rosneft, Gazprom, and Novatek — all Russian banks, the remaining ‘shadow fleet’ vessels, restricting their cargo services, access to the cloud computing, banning cooperation with Russian entities in scientific research, and other measures.

The meeting also discussed the role of the EU in ensuring security guarantees for Ukraine. One of the essential elements – Ukraine’s strong, high-readiness armed forces, which can be supported through EU military training missions.

According to the minister, Ukraine’s EU membership is the strongest security guarantee that Europe can provide. Thus, there is an urgent need to immediately open the first negotiating clusters for EU accession, and, by the end of this year open the remaining ones as well as identify 2030 as the target year for Ukraine’s EU membership.

The EU foreign ministers also discussed the situation in the Middle East, the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, the EU decision-making process, and the possibility of applying qualified majority voting to Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) decisions.

Luxembourg, September 1 (ELTA) – In July 2025, the euro area seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.2%, down from 6.3% in June 2025 and from 6.4% in July 2024. The EU unemployment rate was 5.9% in July 2025, also down from 6.0% in June 2025 and in July 2024. These figures are published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

In July, unemployment in Lithuania was 7.1%, stable June, in Latvia 6.6% and in Estonia 7.2%.

Eurostat estimates that 13.025 million persons in the EU, of whom 10.805 million in the euro area, were unemployed in July 2025.

Compared with June 2025, unemployment decreased by 165 thousand in the EU and by 170 thousand in the euro area.

Compared with July 2024, unemployment decreased by 105 thousand in the EU and by 161 thousand in the euro area.

In July 2025, 2.801 million young persons (under 25) were unemployed in the EU, of whom 2.227 million were in the euro area. In July 2025, the youth unemployment rate was 14.4% in the EU, down from 14.8% in June 2025, and 13.9% in the euro area, also down from 14.3% in the previous month.

In Lithuania, youth unemployment stood at 16.5%, up from 16.1% in June. In July last year, the rate was 21.4%. Latvia and Estonia recorded the youth unemployment rates at 16.9% and 27% in July respectively.

Vilnius, September 1 (ELTA) – The Lithuanian Government has held a primary placement auction of additional offers of its Eurobonds at the public company Nasdaq Vilnius, with the average accepted yield of 3.362%.

The state borrowed EUR 100 million for a period of eight years and just over five months, the stock exchange said Monday. The Government Eurobonds are set to be redeemed on 13 February 2034.

The total volume of competitive bids on Monday stood at around EUR 206.61 million.

Vilnius, September 1 (ELTA) – Japan’s Ajinomoto, global producer of amino acid-based seasonings, food products and biotech services, is considering an investment in Lithuania’s market, Verslo žinios reports.

Lithuanian officials already have had three meetings with the firm generating around USD 10 billion in annual revenue per year, according to Ignas Hofmanas, acting agriculture minister. Two of them took place in Lithuania and one in Tokyo.

The Japanese company wants to invest in a plant protein factory, the business news website said citing unofficial sources.

The group of companies has recently been interested in Lithuanian wheat, which would be used for the production in Poland, potatoes and frozen products, which Lithuanian companies would produce on behalf of Ajinomoto, the minister told Verslo žinios.

Ajinomoto Co., Inc. has four factories in Europe, including one in Poland. Established in 1999, Ajinomoto Poland manufactures instant Japanese soups and a line of noodle products in Warsaw. These are exported to 25 countries.