European Union Finance Ministers will meet on October 15 in Luxembourg to finalise the question on improving access of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to finance. They will also exchange views on strengthening of the economic policy coordination. These items are related to the preparation of the European Council at the end of October.

On Thursday the construction of joint-stock stevedoring company Klaipedos Smelte international container terminal began in Lithuanian port city Klaipeda.

Monday 14 October will mark the opening of the fourth and final round of live, interactive online debates – this time on e-commerce - between citizens, businesses, organisations, and policy makers in the framework of Single Market Month. This is an opportunity for citizens and stakeholders to make proposals for the future of the EU, and to debate these proposals online, in real time, with other citizens, stakeholders, officials and leaders, and experts from all over Europe. The Commission is again taking to the web in order to involve citizens and civil society groups in its policy agenda. The online forum offers stakeholders a unique and immediate line of communication to Brussels policymakers. Throughout Single Market Month, the forum has been hosting successive debates on four themes: Jobs, Social Rights, Banks, and e-Commerce, in all 24 EU languages.

Lithuania has good opportunities to adopt the euro in 2015, and fiscal discipline should remain the major direction of economic policy, Vitas Vasiliauskas, Chairman of the Board of the Bank of Lithuania, stated after a meeting with Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Ms Nemat Shafik in Washington.

Lithuania's Minister of Finance Rimantas Sadzius on October 11 met with Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Nemat Shafik in Washington, informs LETA/ELTA.

The Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER II) has on October 9 in Brussels authorized the Lithuanian Presidency to start discussions with the European Parliament and the Commission on the EU guarantee to the European Investment Bank to finance operations supporting investment projects outside the Union.

Apartment prices in Lithuanian capital continue to increase for the eighth month in a row in September 2013. This price dynamics is revealed by the Lithuanian apartment price index (OHBI) of real estate company Ober-Haus that registers changes in apartment prices in the five major Lithuanian cities (Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipeda, Siauliai and Panevezys).

2,8 million tons, i.e. more by 14%, comparing with cargo handling turnover in August of 2013, were handled in Klaipėda Seaport in September of 2013, reports BC port's press service.

Shale gas extraction could help lower energy bills and reduce Europe's dependence on energy from other countries, but there are concerns about how it could affect people's health and the environment. On 9 October MEPs will vote on whether shale gas exploration and extraction should be subject to mandatory assessments of their impact on the environment. Find out how shale gas drilling works in our infographic.

Company Audimas, the leading brand of clothing for active leisure and sports in Lithuania, has opened the first stores of a new concept and plans to invest LTL 4 million (EUR 1.2 million) in upgrading of the chain of stores within several year.