Vilnius, July 30 (ELTA) – Speaker of the Seimas, the Parliament of Lithuania, Saulius Skvernelis, does not think that Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas may continue heading the Government amid a scandal over his past and present business ties.

“Our party, its board have stated clearly – we do not see a possibility for the prime minister to continue working,” Skvernelis, leader of the party Democrats For Lithuania, said in an interview to the radio station Žinių radijas on Wednesday.

On 24 July, Democrats For Lithuania stated that the Government is in crisis and if there is no solution regarding Paluckas, then the party would withdraw from the ruling coalition with the Social Democratic Party (LSDP) and the Nemunas Dawn.

Earlier, president’s chief adviser Frederikas Jansonas said that this is only the Social Democratic prime minister’s crisis, but not the Government’s or the country’s crisis. Yet Skvernelis disagrees with this opinion.

“We have concluded that this is both the Government’s and the prime minister’s crisis. […] The prime minister is closely interlinked with the Government. When the prime minister steps down, the Government steps down as well. Everything starts anew,” said Skvernelis.

As reported, Paluckas is embroiled in a scandal following a series of journalistic investigations about his past and present business ties.

President Gitanas Nausėda gave Paluckas two-weeks to provide clear answers to the public regarding the questions raised in journalistic investigations or to consider if he may continue heading the Government. The prime minister then took a two-week holiday.

Journalist Šarūnas Černiauskas and founder of Laisvės TV Andrius Tapinas have discovered, among other things, that in February 2025 the company Dankora, owned by the prime minister’s sister-in-law, used EUR 145,200 of European Union funds to purchase items for an electric car charging station project from the prime minister’s company Garnis.

Vilnius, July 30 (ELTA) – The Armed Forces continue the search for the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that flew into Lithuania from Belarus on Monday, 28 July, and is believed to have crashed.

“This morning, the search for the drone resumed,” representative of the Armed Forces, Captain Indrė Pilkauskaitė, told public radio LRT on Wednesday.

She said that on Tuesday the search was conducted in Kaunas district, 20 kilometres north of Kaunas city. This would be more than 100 km from the border with Belarus as the crow flies.

The captain said an Air Force helicopter and military police officers with drones took part in the search. Nearly 100 people were interviewed as well.

The military intends to continue the search until the UAV is found.

As reported, the drone incursion from Belarus occurred on early Monday morning. The National Crisis Management Centre (NKVC) said it was flying in the altitude of around 200 metres. The drone flew over Lithuania’s capital Vilnius.

Minister of National Defence Dovilė Šakalienė did not rule out that this might be a lost drone from Russia’s war against Ukraine that was affected by electronic warfare measures and lost control.

A meeting was held at the Office of the President on Tuesday to discuss threats posed by drones and how to counter them. It was afterwards announced that Lithuania would additionally acquire radars capable of detecting low-flying objects.

The Armed Forces also deployed more air defence capabilities at the border with Belarus.

A similar incident happened on 10 July, when a drone flew from Belarus into Lithuania and crashed around 1 km from the border. It was later identified as Russian-made Gerbera decoy drone. Authorities said it did not pose any danger to the public.

Vilnius, July 29 (ELTA) – Lithuania plans to buy more low-altitude detection drone radars to improve its aviation surveillance network, the minister of national defence has said.

“We have acquired some radars to detect flying objects moving at low altitudes, especially in difficult meteorological conditions. We will increase the number of these radars, and expand the scope of the procurements,” Dovilė Šakalienė told reporters in the Presidential Palace on Tuesday.

A project involving acoustic radars is currently underway, she added.

The minister also revealed plans to upgrade the sensor system and acquire instruments to counter drone threats and secure interoperability between different systems.

Chief of Defence Gen Ramundas Vaikšnoras said the search for a drone that allegedly breached Lithuanian airspace from Belarus on Monday continues.

“Areas are being checked based on the last call from residents. (...) So far, there has not been any positive breakthrough, but as long as the weather is good, as long as we have daylight, we are scouting out the areas on the ground, and using drones as well as helicopters to locate (a potential crash site),” the general told a press conference in the Presidential Palace.

He acknowledged that it is still not clear what type of object the authorities are looking for.

“Until we have concrete evidence of what we are talking about, we do not want to speculate on the specific vehicle,” he said.

The police reported on Monday morning that an unidentified unmanned aircraft had entered Lithuania from Belarus.

The National Crisis Management Centre (NKVC) said the drone had been spotted flying at an altitude of around 200 metres and was last seen near Vilnius. 

Vilnius, July 29 (ELTA) – The Freedom and Justice party, led by MP Artūras Zuokas, has officially changed its name to the Centre Right Union (CDS). The party’s new title was included in databases of the Centre of Registers on Monday.

“The Centre Right Union is not a cosmetic change. This is a declaration of values,” stated MP Zuokas, former mayor of Vilnius city.

The party for several months considered 40 different options for the new name before settling on CDS.

The decision to rename the organisation was adopted by its council in March 2025.

Zuokas is the sole representative of the Freedom and Justice in the Seimas, the Parliament of Lithuania. He was elected in a single member constituency in 2024. Whereas the party failed to surpass the 5% vote threshold in the multi member constituency having garnered 0.75% of the vote.

Vilnius, July 30 (ELTA) – The European Power Exchange EPEX SPOT announces the upcoming launch of its Intraday Continuous Market in the Baltic region, scheduled for November 2025. This marks a significant milestone in the Exchange’s mission to build a truly integrated and efficient pan-European power market, reports natural gas exchange operator GET Baltic

The Intraday Continuous Market allows for up-to-real-time trading of electricity, helping to better integrate renewable energy, enhance grid stability, and enable market participants to manage their portfolios with greater flexibility.

In 2026, EPEX SPOT products portfolio will be further extended with the launch of Day-Ahead and Intraday Auction markets in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, providing a comprehensive power trading offering in the region.

The launch of EPEX SPOT power markets in the Baltic region will further complete its pan-European offer, and provide market participants access to a wider and innovative products range,  high-performing trading systems, robust market operations, as well as strong group synergies. These markets will be cleared by EPEX SPOT’s trusted clearing house ECC.

In this new initiative, EPEX SPOT will be supported by GET Baltic, part of the EEX Group, leveraging the company’s long-standing presence and experience as the licensed gas exchange in the Baltic States and Finland.

This initiative reflects EPEX SPOT commitment to delivering an integrated and innovative product offering across Europe.

Vilnius, July 30 (ELTA) – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Kęstutis Budrys on Wednesday met with Deputy Prime Minister of Moldova for European Integration Cristina Gherasimov.

At the meeting, the minister stressed Lithuania’s support for Moldova’s European Union membership aspirations and expressed hope that together with Ukraine it would move ahead in EU membership talks.

Budrys stated that Lithuania has provided practical support to enhance the capabilities of Moldovan institutions in the area of European integration.

The head of Lithuanian diplomacy also reaffirmed support for Moldova’s territorial integrity and welcomed the country’s efforts in tackling Russian sanction evasion.

Moldova has actively sought for EU membership since 2022. It submitted an accession application immediately after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Vilnius, July 30 (ELTA) – Ignitis Renewables, an international green energy company, has completed its first solar project in Latvia where Vārme solar farm, located in the Kuldīga municipality, has reached the commercial operation date. Covering 110 hectares, the solar farm is equipped with 156,000 solar panels of a 94 megawatt (MW) total installed capacity. Its annual renewable generation will power more than 40,000 households, reports Ignitis.

“Vārme solar farm constitutes an important step in the development of green energy as it is our first solar project in Latvia to reach commercial operation date. We are actively expanding our presence in this market and contributing to the growth of local renewable generation. Moreover, we are strengthening the foundation for green projects across the Baltics, which is an essential prerequisite for making our region one of the most competitive in Europe in terms of energy prices”, says Darius Maikštėnas, Ignitis Group CEO. 

Vārme is the thirst of the three large-scale solar farms being implemented in Latvia by Ignitis renewables. Two more projects - 145 MW Stelpe and 174 MW Tume - are currently under construction. These three solar farms, with a total installed capacity of over 400 MW, will be able to power nearly 200,000 households with renewable energy every year. 

In developing its projects in Latvia, the company closely cooperates with local communities and municipalities, implements financial support initiatives, and adheres to high environmental standards. This park is a part of a broader vision to build a cleaner, more reliable and sustainable energy system across the Baltics. 

The total investment in the solar farm, including acquisition and construction, amounts to around EUR 66 million. The park will operate under market conditions, with the energy generated contributing to the local supply of green energy. 

Vilnius, July 30 (ELTA) – In II quarter 2025, Lithuania’s gross domestic product (GDP) amounted to EUR 20.5 billion at current prices, reports the State Data Agency.

The estimate was obtained through application of econometric models based on available statistical data. Compared to I quarter 2025, the real GDP change, seasonally and calendar adjusted, was positive and stood at 0.2 percent.

As for GDP estimated by production approach, in II quarter 2025, the largest positive influence on the change in GDP was made by performance results of enterprises engaged in wholesale and retail trade, transportation and storage, information and communication services activities.

In II quarter 2025, compared to the corresponding quarter of 2024, the real GDP change, seasonally and calendar unadjusted, was positive and stood at 3.0 percent, seasonally and calendar adjusted – 3.0 percent.

In II quarter 2025, compared to I quarter 2025, the real GDP change, seasonally and calendar unadjusted, was positive and stood at 5.1 percent.

Vilnius, July 30 (ELTA) – Irregular migrants did not attempt to access Lithuania from Belarus on Tuesday, 29 July, reports the State Border Guard Service (VSAT).

Meanwhile, border guards in Latvia on Tuesday stopped 42 migrants from entering the country illegally from Belarus. Poland turned back 162 foreigners on Monday as they attempted to enter the country illegally from Belarus.

So far this year, by 30 July, the VSAT has prevented 946 irregular migrants from accessing Lithuania via Belarus. The figure stood at 1,002 throughout 2024.

Since the start of the migrant crisis caused by Belarus in 2021, Lithuania has thwarted nearly 24 thousand illegal border crossing attempts.

Vilnius, July 29 (ELTA) – Border officers intercepted a Mercedes Benz GLC near the border with Belarus that has been wanted by French law enforcement since June, the State Border Guard Service (VSAT) reported Tuesday.

On Saturday evening, officers at the Medininkai border post checked a Mercedes Benz GLC leaving Lithuania. The SUV with Lithuanian licence plates was driven by a 45-year-old Belarusian citizen temporarily residing in Lithuania.

Officers found that the 2019 SUV was being sought by French police as evidence in criminal proceedings since on 6 June this year.

The car was registered in Lithuania two years ago.

The Belarusian driver was released after being questioned as a witness.

The SUV is temporarily stored in one of the Vilnius border guard units.

Vilnius, July 29 (ELTA) – Minister of National Defence Dovilė Šakalienė suggests some sections of airspace could be closed to neutralise unmanned aircraft that illegally enter the territory of Lithuania to avoid unnecessary stress for fighter jet pilots.

The minister’s statement came after she met with President Gitanas Nausėda and other officials on Tuesday to discuss the latest drone incursion.

“When NATO air police are tasked with destroying an object, it is difficult to bureaucratically close certain areas of airspace so that they would be free of civilian objects. A lightning-fast closure is impossible. It is a complex bureaucratic procedure,” Šakalienė told a press conference in the Presidential Palace on Tuesday.

Therefore, airspace shutdowns are now being actively prepared, she said.

The minister also stressed that the decision to shoot down targets in peacetime will still be taken by the political leadership.

Vilnius, July 29 (ELTA) – Fashion retailer Apranga Group said Tuesday its retail turnover (including VAT) totalled EUR 166.1 million in January-June 2025, an increase by 2.8% compared to the same period of 2024.

In the first half of 2025, the pre-audited consolidated profit before income tax of Apranga Group was EUR 7.3 million, while it amounted to EUR 9.1 million in the same period of 2024.

Adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of Apranga Group stood at EUR 18.6 million in January-June 2025. The company’s EBITDA was EUR 19.6 million in corresponding period of 2024.

Apranga Group currently operates the chain of 169 stores (102 in Lithuania, 43 in Latvia and 24 in Estonia) covering the gross area of 92.2 thousand square metres, or by 1.3% more than a year ago.