The Rail Baltica joint venture RB Rail AS has announced the signing of two new agreements under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), which will greatly accelerate the implementation of the Rail Baltica project. The funding provides 1.394 billion euros, including about 1.163 billion euros from the CEF and 231 million euros in co-financing from the three Baltic States, marking the largest funding awarded in this financial period and one of the most substantial amounts granted among EU infrastructure projects of comparable significance. This investment supports key activities to advance the Rail Baltica mainline construction. The results of the latest CEF call were announced in the summer of 2024.

On October 28 – November 3 detachment of the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states were scrambled four times to intercept aircraft flying in violation of international aviation regulations.

Double crew cab space and medlift role-capable Unimog U5000 trucks have been officially received at the Lithuanian Armed Forces Depot Service in Kaunas. Representatives of Austria’s EMPL Fahrzeugwerk and Germany’s Daimler Trucks AG have presented to the Lithuania Armed Forces the symbolic key as the truck acquisition project kicked off several years ago continues.

The multinational EU Member States’ Cyber Rapid Response Team (CRRT) has finished its second mission in support of Moldova (and third since 2022) during the first round of presidential election and the referendum on anchoring EU accession in the constitution. The deployment follows a Request for Support from the Moldovan Information Technology and Cyber Security Service (STISC).

On 3-4 October in Vilnius, the Baltic Culture Committee discussed joint cultural initiatives between Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia.

On Tuesday, MEPs paved the way for improved management of European airspace, enabling more direct flights and fewer delays, and supporting climate neutrality.

The Ministry of National Defence is buying different capacity power generators for hospitals across Lithuania for approx. EUR 4.3 million, as well as gas masks and CBRN protection equipment worth of approx. EUR 300 thousand for medical personnel. Acquisitions mapped out for 2024-2025 shall strengthen medical institutions’ resilience and readiness for looming threats thus preventing disruptions in provision of medical services in case of emergencies.

The Ministry of the Environment held a webinar for companies supplying food, timber, and other products to discuss the specifics of the new European Union Anti-Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). The event was attended by around 300 representatives of Lithuanian companies.

The Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) signed a contract with the German ARTEC consortium on behalf of Lithuania last week on acquisition of additional 27 pieces of the Boxer-Vilkas Infantry Fighting Vehicle for the Lithuanian Armed Forces to successfully complete the first phase of IFV acquisition.

On October 7 – 13 detachment of the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states were scrambled twice: once to intercept aircraft violating aviation regulations, and also to patrol the international airspace over the Baltic Sea.