‘The Baltic region faces common threats and challenges, thus, cooperation, experience sharing and effort pooling in areas where we can do more together, is natural and desirable. Lithuania’s crisis and emergency management model, which draws together professional analytical capabilities, real-time data and state-of-the-art technical solutions in the National Crisis Management Centre, is the result of long, careful and consistent efforts enabling us to share insights and experience with like-minded partners in the region,’ said Chancellor of the Government, Giedrė Balčytytė.
Lithuania’s new crisis management model was presented at the meeting in Riga by Vilmantas Vitkauskas, Head of the newly opened National Crisis Management Centre (NCMC).
The NCMC is the most important operational-level institution in crisis and emergency prevention and management, with a 24/7 Situation Centre providing continuous monitoring of threats to interests of national security. In the event of a crisis or emergency, the NCMC is responsible for preparing data- and analysis-based solutions and ensure their implementation and inter-institutional coordination.
The meeting in Riga also discussed the issues of countering disinformation and building resilience in democratic societies. Adviser to the Prime Minister, Rimantas Žylius, presented the changes put in place in Lithuania last year in data management, noting their relevance for timely and accurate decision-making in emergencies and crises management. The Adviser pointed out improvements to the state data ecosystem, notably through the transformation of the Department of Statistics to the State Data Agency last year.
Another issue discussed at the meeting was content moderation on social networking platforms in the context of the Russian war in Ukraine, notably frequent and unjustified blocking of posts or profile restrictions as observed by users. In cooperation with the Debunk.org team, the Office of the Government initiated a discussion with Meta to address this situation.
