The beginning of 2022 and the rising total number of COVID-19 cases already show a completely different trend - European countries are no longer moving in the direction of bans, but on the contrary, the requirements for travellers are being relaxed, and, according to the aviation experts of Lithuanian airports, an increasing number of countries will only check the documents proving the immunity of the individual passenger, without any additional requirements. The countries no longer see any point in introducing new or maintaining the existing stricter restrictions, making conditions easier for travellers.

Vilnius started year-round preparations for its 700th anniversary in 2023. The countdown till the grand birthday includes cultural, art, educational events, and a beloved Light Show.

Earlier today, the Cabinet has decided to suspend the National Certificate.

Following the completion of the necessary inspection procedures, the largest airfield renovation project in the country's aviation history at Vilnius Airport will be officially completed in January 2022. During the three-year reconstruction, new taxiways were upgraded and installed, surfaces were modified and widened to allow larger aircraft to taxi, and environmentally friendly solutions were introduced. The project was completed on time and without disrupting the airport’s normal operations, with a contract value of €36 million (excluding VAT).

The prototype electric bus Dancer developed and manufactured in Lithuania is being tested for passenger transportation at Vilnius Airport. The prototype of a fully environmentally friendly vehicle, adapting the latest scientific discoveries, is being developed by a subsidiary of the Vėjo Projektai group, Elektrinio transporto sistemos, which is implementing a project funded by the European Union Regional Development Fund.

Last year was marked by great progress in road safety – the number of road fatalities decreased by 17 %. This means 30 less fatalities than the previous year (2020) and less than half the number a decade ago.

MEPs honoured the memory of Parliament’s late President David Maria Sassoli in a ceremony during the Plenary in Strasbourg on Monday.

NATO’s military capabilities in the Baltic region are enhanced as of this January. The Danish Parliament has decided this week to send additional four fighter aircraft to Lithuania and its HDMS Peter Willemoes frigate with a crew of 160 aboard to the Baltic Sea.

"The pandemic is gradually turning into an endemic situation due to immunization. I imagine that if nothing changes, we can probably expect that all the restrictions associated with the pandemic will no longer apply next year, because the health care systems will no longer be threatened – people will either be vaccinated or will have recovered from contracting the virus", A virus researcher, VU Life Sciences Centre researcher Dr. Gytis Dudas, predicts on the Vilnius University (VU) podcast "Science without Sermons". At the same time, however, one fact is worrying the researchers – the particularly wide range of SARS-CoV-2 hosts.