Vilnius, November 14 (ELTA) – On Friday, in Vilnius, Minister of National Defence Robertas Kaunas met with Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, chair of the NATO Military Committee, assuring him that Lithuania’s priorities have not changed and defence funding would increase next year.

The minister stressed that Lithuania’s defence budget would stand at 5–6 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) in 2026–2030. This is needed to prepare the infrastructure for the German brigade deployed in Lithuania by 2027, and to establish an operational division-sized Lithuanian unit by 2030. 

At the meeting, Minister Kaunas and the chair of the Military Committee discussed regional security and air defence. The minister noted that airspace violations repeatedly occur on NATO’s eastern flank.

Moreover, the minister stated that the current security situation clearly proves the need to strengthen air defence in the region. He hopes that the operation Eastern Flank Watch would be a key step forward striving for this goal.

At the meeting, the minister thanked the admiral for his contribution to Italy’s decision to deploy long-range air defence system SAMP/T in Lithuania. They also discussed Lithuania’s efforts to enhance national air defence capabilities, as well as airspace violations by smuggler balloons and drones.

As reported, the Government has announced that in 2026 Lithuania’s defence spending would amount to 5.38% of GDP or EUR 4.79 billion.

Vilnius, November 14 (ELTA) – On 14 November, at the annual meeting of Baltic transport ministers in Riga, Lithuania’s Minister of Transport and Communications Juras Taminskas, alongside his Latvian and Estonian counterparts, discussed the progress of joint infrastructure projects and the EU investment essential for Rail Baltica, Via Baltica, and other key connections linking the Baltic States with Europe.

On Friday in Riga, Juras Taminskas met with Latvian Minister of Transport Atis Švinka and Estonian Minister for Infrastructure, Kuldar Leis, reports the Ministry of Transport and Communications.

“By advancing key transport routes like Rail Baltica and Via Baltica, we are investing in our future – improving passenger and freight mobility, strengthening economic resilience, and reinforcing military mobility. They make a meaningful contribution to Europe’s security,” stated Minister Taminskas.

Lithuanian minister of transport stressed that Rail Baltica, Via Baltica and the Alternative Suwałki Corridor are key to ensuring efficient and competitive links between the Baltic States and Europe, as well as supporting the region’s military mobility. Already part of both TEN-T’s North Sea–Baltic and Baltic–Black–Aegean Corridors and the EU’s Military Mobility Corridors, these projects will play a major role in reinforcing NATO’s eastern flank.

During the meeting, it was noted that the most significant progress on the Rail Baltica project in Lithuania has been achieved on the section from Kaunas towards the Latvian border. Construction works have been extended along a 114-kilometre section between Kaunas and Panevėžys, and the first European-gauge tracks are now being installed in the Jonava district.

“Rail Baltica is a strategic priority, which makes it essential to advance efficiently from one implementation phase to the next to deliver a European-gauge railway across the three Baltic States by 2030,” said Minister Taminskas.

In Lithuania, the reconstruction of the 40-kilometre Via Baltica section from Marijampolė to the Polish border is nearing completion. The Minister added that, with additional EU support, the remaining section from Kaunas to the Latvian border should be planned for renewal by 2030.

Lithuania’s upcoming 2027 Presidency of the EU Council is expected to provide an opportunity to further strengthen the Baltic States’ engagement in shaping the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework.

The minister is also participating today in the 44th Baltic Assembly and the 31st Baltic Council sessions. This marks Minister Taminskas’ first foreign visit.

Vilnius, November 14 (ELTA) – On 14 November in Riga, Minister of Foreign Affairs Budrys is participating in the 31st Baltic Council. This is a joint meeting of the body of parliamentary cooperation among Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania – the Baltic Assembly – and the governmental body – the Baltic Council of Ministers – reports the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The head of Lithuania’s diplomacy, together with the Latvian and Estonian foreign ministers, Baiba Braže and Margus Tsahkna, discussed plans for further regional cooperation and participate in a joint discussion with members of the Baltic Assembly.

A joint statement of the Baltic Council was adopted in Riga.

After the meeting of the Baltic Council, a press conference of the speakers of the Parliaments of the Baltic States and ministers of foreign affairs took place at 1 p.m.

This year, the Baltic Council of Ministers is chaired by Latvia, and in 2026, Estonia will take the helm.

Vilnius, November 14 (ELTA) – On Monday, 17 November, the Presidential Palace will host the first international summit “Growing Europe 2025”, themed “Shaping Europe’s Demographic Future: Investing in Families and Every New Life”, the presidency said in a press release.

The initiators of this event are Lithuania’s First Lady Diana Nausėdienė and her initiative “Growing Lithuania” (Auginu Lietuvą), together with the Lithuanian Premature Baby Association Neišnešiotukas. The meeting will be held to mark World Prematurity Day. The event partners are the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Health, and Social Security and Labor.

The summit will open with a strategic session featuring a discussion on Europe’s demographic future, the consequences of declining birth rates, and the importance of supporting families. This session will include a forum of First Ladies and Gentlemen, where participants will share their insights on leadership, care, and shared responsibility for future generations. It will conclude with a panel discussion attended by decision-makers and representatives of non-governmental organizations.

The session will be attended by the First Ladies of Albania and Serbia, Armanda Begaj and Tamara Vučić, as well as the spouse of the President of Slovenia, Aleš Musar. The First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, will address participants remotely, while video messages will be delivered by the First Lady of Poland, Marta Nawrocka, and the First Lady of Turkey, Emine Erdoğan.

The meeting will also feature Mathias Cormann, Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which pays great attention to demographic challenges, and Natasha Azzopardi-Muscat, Director of the Division of Country Health Policies and Systems at the WHO Regional Office for Europe. A video message will be delivered by Dubravka Šuica, European Commissioner for Mediterranean, who is also responsible for the issues of demography.

The summit will also be attended by Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė, Minister of Foreign Affairs Kęstutis Budrys, Minister of Health Marija Jakubauskienė, and Minister of Social Security and Labour Jūratė Zailskienė, as well as Silke Mader, Chairwoman of the Global Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants, and Asta Radzevičienė, Founder and Director of the Lithuanian Premature Baby Association Neišnešiotukas.

The second session will focus on the implementation of European newborn healthcare standards in different countries, with speakers sharing the experiences of Portugal and Lithuania. They will demonstrate how these standards promote high-quality newborn care through family involvement. The session will conclude with a discussion on the importance of engaging parents in newborn care, promoting family well-being and emotional health, and achieving work–life balance.

The third session will bring together Lithuanian mayors, NGOs, business leaders, and philanthropists to address declining birth rates and demographic challenges. It will include a presentation on how regional industry and strategic philanthropy can strengthen community resilience, and how tax incentives for business–NGO cooperation can create long-term benefits for families and newborns.

On Monday, the First Ladies and Gentlemen will also visit the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Santaros Clinics.

Vilnius, November 14 (ELTA) – Lithuanian transmission system operator Litgrid on Friday announced that a 42-megawatt hour (MW) windfarm in Kaunas district, Girininkai village, has been connected to the power grid.

The windfarm has been generating electricity in trial mode as of last week and supplies it to the transmission network.

Head of Litgrid Renewable Energy Centre, Ignas Junevičius, notes the importance of wind power plants during the cold season, when solar electricity generation naturally decreases due to long dark hours of the day.

According to the company, following the connection of the windfarm in Girininkai village to the power grid, the permissible generating capacity of solar and wind power plants operating in the country amounts to 5.4 gigawatt hours (GW), which accounts for 60 percent of Lithuania’s entire electricity generation capacity.

Installed power capacity of windfarms in Lithuania currently stands at 2,402 MW.

The windfarm project in Kaunas district is developed by Joreta, a company managed by Lithuanian enterprise E-Energija. The windfarm is planned to begin commercial activities in mid-2026.

Vilnius, November 14 (ELTA) – This week, Omniva resumed parcel registration for delivery to the United States in its business client infosystems, the company reported.

When registering a shipment, clients must provide all parcel details (description of the contents, HS code, item value, and country of manufacture). Based on this information, the system automatically calculates the total delivery cost. 

The delivery cost to the USA now includes three components: shipping cost, customs duty, and customs handling fee. Omniva’s shipping cost is fixed, while the customs duty payable to the US depends on the product type, its country of manufacture, and its value. The customs handling fee is EUR 3 + 3% of the customs duty, plus VAT. 

For any questions, business clients are encouraged to contact their account manager or reach out to Omniva’s business client support.

Omniva, along with other European parcel companies, suspended deliveries to the USA at the end of August when a new requirement by the USA came into force, mandating the declaration and payment of customs duties even on low-value shipments. Unfortunately, at the time the law took effect, the necessary implementing acts – the procedures for declaring shipments and transferring customs duties to the US – were not yet in place. 

These implementation acts are now in place, and Omniva has adopted a virtual automated customs broker to comply with the new US customs regulations. Gifts sent from one individual to another with a value of up to 100 USD are exempt from customs duties. 

Parcel registration for shipments to the USA at post offices will resume later this year. In the meantime, private customers can use the self-service portal at mano.omniva.lt, while business clients can continue shipping via their OMX API or through Omniva’s business client self-service, in line with their customer agreement.

Vilnius, November 14 (ELTA) – Despite tension continuing in the ruling coalition since summer, the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP) still tops political party ratings, shows a poll commissioned by the news agency ELTA.

The public opinion poll was carried out on 16–28 October 2025 by the pollster Baltijos tyrimai. People were asked which party they would vote for if parliamentary elections were to take place next Sunday.

In October, the LSDP, the major coalition party led by Mindaugas Sinkevičius, was at the top of the rating having been named by 11.8% of respondents (14.3% in September).

Second was the Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrat party (TS-LKD), led by Laurynas Kasčiūnas. It was named by 11.1% of the polled in October (13.3% in September).

Third was Democrats For Lithuania, led by Saulius Skvernelis, with 10.5% of support (10.3% in September).

Farmers and Greens Union (LVŽS), a coalition party led by Aurelijus Veryga, was fourth with 10.5% (9.1% in September).

The Nemunas Dawn party, a coalition party led by Remigijus Žemaitaitis, closed the top five with 8.5% of support (8.8% in September).

In October, 7% of respondents also named the Liberal Movement led by Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen (5.4% in September).

Further on the list was the Labour Party (3.2%), the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania-Christian Families Alliance (3.1%), whose members are also in the coalition, and the Freedom Party (2.4%).

In addition, 4.7% of respondents mentioned other parties.

Meanwhile, 27.2% of the polled were undecided which party to vote for (28.5% in September).

Vilnius, November 14 (ELTA) – Workplace safety solutions company SafetyRespect and the SBA group’s real estate company SBA Urban have agreed on the lease of 1,500 sqm of space in the Urban HUB development in Vilnius. The company plans to relocate all its operations to Urban HUB at the beginning of 2026, Urban HUB said in a press release.

“In the coming years, we plan to expand our business, and at Urban HUB in Vilnius, we found the opportunity to bring our office, warehouse, showroom, and training spaces under one roof. For us, the strategic location is essential, as well as the flexibility of the premises and the attention to our specific needs. Here, we will also launch a new concept for our training centre,” says SafetyRespect General Manager Arnoldas Marciuška.

The company’s plans include 1,000 sqm of warehouse space, 300 sqm of modern office space, and 200 sqm for a training centre and exhibition area.

“Despite the challenges in the commercial real estate market, Urban HUB in Vilnius continues to grow rapidly – currently, around 80% of the project’s spaces are already occupied. Businesses are discovering the advantages of the stock-office concept, and SafetyRespect is an excellent example of how to bring key business functions together in one place efficiently,” says Lina Volodzkienė, Head of Commerce and Development at Urban HUB.

According to her, in recent years, the main expectation among businesses has been greater efficiency and cost savings. Companies are looking not only for ways to use their spaces more effectively and consolidate them into a single location, but also to optimise maintenance costs. As a result, the developers who can offer flexible leasing options are the ones winning the competition. In August, Urban HUB Vilnius installed a nearly 500 kW rooftop solar power plant to meet client needs, ensuring both sustainable and more affordable electricity.

Urban HUB business and retail centres are being developed in Vilnius and Kaunas. In Vilnius, a 22,000 sqm project has already been completed, accommodating more than 30 businesses, including Paulini, Camelia, Vilnius Padel Arena, Storent, and others. The project’s occupancy rate has reached almost 80%.

Vilnius, November 14 (ELTA) – The adjusted EBITDA of the energy group EPSO-G reached EUR 60.1 million in January–September 2025, while adjusted net profit amounted to EUR 24.9 million, the company said in a press release.

“Energy independence, reliable infrastructure, and resilience are long-term priorities, so we are investing purposefully in infrastructure that connects Lithuania with its neighbours – Poland, Latvia, and Germany. Together with our regional partners, we are actively developing both international electricity interconnections and hydrogen network projects, and strengthening our participation in the defence industry. These decisions ensure not only sustainable growth, but also greater resilience for the country,” says Mindaugas Keizeris, CEO of EPSO-G.

According to Keizeris, in order to increase the Lithuania defence industry capabilities and contribute to national security, EPSO-G and Swedbank in Lithuania have signed a long-term loan agreement worth EUR 73 million. These funds will be used for investments by the Group’s company EPSO-G Invest in an artillery ammunition factory project.

In October this year, the Group successfully completed the transfer of GET Baltic shares to its strategic partner, European Energy Exchange AG, which won an international public tender. During the transaction in 2023, 66% of GET Baltic shares were sold for EUR 6.5 million, and the remaining 34% sold this year were valued at EUR 3.8 million.                               

The Group’s adjusted EBITDA amounted to EUR 60.1 million, i.e. 4% more than last year (EUR 57.8 million). This indicator was calculated after adjusting the results of transmission and energy storage system operators for temporary regulatory differences and eliminating the results of asset revaluation and atypical gains or losses. Although the Group’s adjusted EBITDA increased, the Group’s adjusted net profit for January–September 2025 decreased by 10.2% compared to the corresponding period in 2024 and amounted to EUR 24.9 million (EUR 27.7 million in 2024). In the comparable period of 2024, the Group’s adjusted profit was higher due to better financial performance, as well as the application of investment incentives (in 2025, they will be applied at the end of the year) and other factors.

The unadjusted financial indicators were negative, with an unadjusted net loss of EUR 35.2 million due to temporary regulatory effects and unadjusted EBITDA of EUR -10.1 million. These results were mainly due to significantly higher costs of additional services in electricity transmission activities (Litgrid), in particular due to higher balancing reserve costs than those included in the tariff by the regulator. Temporary regulatory differences are compensated for in subsequent regulatory periods.

The EPSO-G Group’s investments in energy infrastructure to strengthen the security, reliability, and resilience of transmission systems amounted to EUR 126 million, which is 15% less than in the first three quarters of 2024. This year, the Group's company EPSO-G Invest invested EUR 73.1 million in the defence industry – EUR 36.5 million in January–September and another EUR 36.6 million in November, paying for part of the share issue of Rheinmetall Defence Lietuva.

Litgrid’s high-voltage networks transmitted 6.4 TWh of electricity in the first three quarters of this year, 5.6% less than in the same period last year. This change was mainly due to the rapid growth in the number of generating consumers in the distribution network and their increasing electricity production in the distribution network itself.

Between January and September, 7.4 TWh of electricity was generated in Lithuania, i.e. 32% more than a year ago. Local production met 77% of the country’s demand, with renewable energy sources accounting for 52% of total consumption. According to Keizeris, local electricity production in Lithuania has grown particularly rapidly this year, already exceeding the entire 2024 level in terms of both total generation and electricity production from renewable energy sources.

The Lithuanian gas transmission system (excluding transit to Karaliaučius) transported 24 TWh of gas, which is 13% more than in the same period in 2024. Amber Grid transmitted 11 TWh of gas to Lithuanian consumers, which is almost 10% less than last year (12.2 TWh). The lower consumption was due to reduced demand in fertilizer production.

10 TWh of gas was transmitted to consumers in Latvia, Estonia, and Finland via the Lithuania-Latvia interconnector, which is 37% more than last year (7.3 TWh). The GIPL gas pipeline transported 0.6 TWh to Lithuania, or 62% less than in January–September 2024 (1.5 TWh).

By the end of September this year, 1.5 GW of new solar and wind power plants had been connected to the electricity transmission and distribution networks, bringing the total installed capacity to 5.3 GW (5.5 GW in November 2025). 179 GWh of biomethane was fed into the gas transmission system, which is twice as much as last year (89 GWh).

On the Baltpool exchange, heat supply and industrial companies in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia purchased 6.6 TWh of biomass in nine months 2025, or 10% more than last year. The growth in biomass trading was driven by increased demand both in Lithuania and abroad.

The EPSO-G group of companies consists of the holding company EPSO-G and its six direct subsidiaries: Amber Grid, Baltpool, Energy Cells, EPSO-G Invest, Litgrid and Tetas. EPSO-G and its Group companies also hold shares in Rheinmetall Defence Lietuva, Baltic RCC OÜ and TSO Holding AS. The rights and obligations of the sole shareholder of EPSO-G are exercised by the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Lithuania.

Vilnius, November 14 (ELTA) – Lithuania, together with five other European countries – Finland, Sweden, Norway, Estonia and the Netherlands – signed a technical agreement on cooperation implementing infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) programme CV90 MkIV Nordic.

The Ministry of National Defence announced that the agreement was signed by the Defence Materiel Agency. The deal foresees the principles of cooperation, technical requirements and a coordinated action plan before signing of the main agreement, which is planned in early 2026.

Minister of National Defence Robertas Kaunas says delivery of infantry fighting vehicles CV90 for Lithuania and other countries is expected to begin in 2028.

According to the ministry, for Lithuania and other countries participating in the programme the project gives an opportunity not only to modernise their land forces but also to enhance interoperability and industrial cooperation, contributing to Northern Europe’s defence capabilities.

CV90 MkIV is the latest IFV variant made by BAE Systems Hägglunds. It has better protection, more advanced control and weapons systems, and the possibility to integrate various national technologies.

Luxembourg, November 14 (ELTA) – In the third quarter of 2025, seasonally adjusted GDP increased by 0.2% in the euro area and by 0.3% in the EU, compared with the previous quarter, according to a flash estimate published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

Compared with the same quarter of the previous year, seasonally adjusted GDP increased by 1.4% in the euro area and by 1.6% in the EU in the third quarter of 2025, after +1.5% in the euro area and +1.6% in the EU in the previous quarter.

Of the countries for which the data are available, in the third quarter of 2025, compared with the second quarter of 2025, GDP increased the most in Sweden (1.1%), Cyprus (0.9%), Poland, Portugal and Slovenia (0.8%).

In Lithuania GDP, decreased by 0.2% in the third quarter of 2025, compared with the second quarter of 2025.

In the third quarter of 2025, compared with the third quarter of 2024, GDP increased the most in Ireland (12.3%), Poland (3.7%) and Cyprus (3.6%).

In Lithuania, GDP increased by 1.9% in the third quarter of 2025, compared with the third quarter of 2024.