On 25–26 November, the 2013 SME Assembly will be organised by the Ministry of Economy of Lithuania and the European Commission. During the Assembly, the main focus will be directed towards the issues related to SME access to finance, improvement of business environment, responsible business, green economy, impact by digital technologies, smart regulation and reduction of administrative burdens on business.

Lithuania's Ministry of Finance proposes the Government to address to the President with a request to ratify five agreements on avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion.

20 November 2013, Brussels. Today the Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER I) gave its consent to the agreement between the Lithuanian Council Presidency, the European Parliament and the Commission on Proposal for a Decision amending Directive 2003/87/EC clarifying provisions on the timing of auctions of greenhouse gas allowances.

EU financial aid to help Bulgaria, Lithuania and Slovakia to complete the decommissioning of the Kozloduy, Ignalina and Bohunice nuclear power plants in the next EU budget period (2014-2020) was approved by MEPs on Tuesday. These power plants are "too dated and could not be cost-effectively upgraded to meet the minimum required safety standards" says rapporteur Giles Chichester (ECR, UK).

Over the 1st–3rd quarter of 2013 the income of Vilnius International Airport (VIA) reached LTL 44 million, whereas the pre-tax profit was LTL 6.5 million, i.e. 8 times higher compared to the same period last year. Such a result was mostly due to the decrease in financial costs.

The Presidency aim is an agreement acceptable to all, consistent with an objective to build a strong Banking Union, and within the deadline set by the European Council.

The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) helped a total of 15 700 workers dismissed due to the economic crisis and the effects of globalisation find new job opportunities in 2012, according to a report adopted today by the European Commission. The EGF provided more than €73.5 million to assist workers in 11 Member States (Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania, Spain and Sweden) matched by another €51.7 million from national resources.

Europe's economy could be boosted by €275 billion if the EU successfully concludes all current free trade talks. It is now negotiating agreements with major economic players such as the US, Japan and India, which would open up these markets for European businesses. The EU's gross domestic product would then grow by 2.2%, the equivalent of adding a country the size of Austria to the economy. Find out all the facts in our infographic.

Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevičius on November 19 in Brussels will chair the General Affairs Council meeting which will start the fourth European Semester of economic policy coordination.

The interest of Lithuania's business in neighbouring Belarus are developing, the SEB Bank informs. In 2000-2006, Lithuania's businessmen invested LTL 5 million (EUR 1.4 million) into Belarus.