Lithuania will purchase eight M142 HIMARS rocket launchers from the US. The contract is expected to be signed until December, Defence Minister Arvydas Anusauskas has said. “The Americans have given 90% assurance that it will happen until the beginning of December. The contract is for a separate system and eight launchers and launch systems,” Anusauskas…
On October 7, the Lithuanian government approved the 2023 state budget bill and it would be put before the country’s parliament, the Seimas, this week. State budget revenue will grow by 3.4% next year, to 15.62 billion euros, including EU funds. Expenditure is projected to go up by 6.1%, to 18.61 billion euros. The projected…
On October 7, the Lithuanian government backed plans to raise the minimum monthly wage by 15%, to 840 euros before tax, amounting to 633 euros after tax. The non-taxable income rate will rise by 16%, to 625 euros. Finance Minister Gintare Skaiste says both increases will give those on a minimum wage some 83 euros…
Lithuania will emerge from the crisis of recent years “stronger and more resilient” than before, Economy and Innovation Minister Ausrine Armonaite told several hundred foreign investors on October 6. “The last two years have been challenging and I can’t promise that 2023 will be easier, but what I’m absolutely sure of is that we will…
The price of heating in Lithuania in October will be about 100% higher than in the same month last year, according to the International Biofuel Exchange Baltpool. “The price changes are mainly influenced by the energy crisis in Europe caused by the war in Ukraine: the suspension of biofuel imports from Belarus has doubled the…
Lithuania has decided to use almost $3 million earmarked for Afghanistan’s security forces to buy warm clothing for Ukrainian soldiers and help meet other needs. On October 5, the government decided to take back $2.876 million (2.94 million euros) contributed by Lithuania to the NATO-run Afghan National Army (ANA) Trust Fund. “Since $2.876 million have…
The United States’ total military assistance to Lithuania will increase to $141 million in 2022 after the US Congress approved an additional funding package, the American Embassy in Vilnius said on October 4. The funding is part of a $2.2-billion aid package to help Ukraine and 17 other countries that have made significant contributions to…