Society

Important traffic scheme changes at Vilnius Airport: what do passengers arriving by car need to know?

2024-05-08T14:25:06+03:00

The ongoing reconstruction of Vilnius Airport's traffic scheme, which is directly linked to the new departures terminal opening at the beginning of next year, is already leading to important changes at the capital's gateways. The most important change is the permanent closure of the airport's iconic ramp to the existing departures terminal, which will be closed to cars from 29th of April.

Importantly, the ramp will continue to be available to all passengers on foot, while only service and passengers with individual needs will be able to access the departure terminal by car.

As a reminder, short-term car stops (for dropping off or picking up passengers) at Vilnius Airport will only be available at the PC and P3 car park zones (see the scheme). Cars arriving passengers will be able to park free of charge for 15 minutes in these car parks.

This traffic and pedestrian scheme will be in place for the whole month of May in the vicinity of Vilnius Airport, with additional changes planned from June onwards, to be announced in mid-May.

"The main reason why we already have to close the exit ramp towards the departure terminal is that this ramp will not be used for the departure function in the new traffic scheme we are implementing, and the whole departure process will be via the new terminal. We are well aware that there will be inconveniences for passengers throughout the summer, but there is simply no other way for positive changes to take place at Vilnius Airport traffic scheme, and we are investing a lot of effort to ensure that the reconstruction works themselves are completed as quickly as possible and are completed already in the autumn, and we are emphasizing the provision of information to passengers at the airport, as we are aware that there will be a lot of questions for passengers when they arrive," says Arnas Dūmanas, Head of the Development Department of Lithuanian Airports.

What will change at Vilnius Airport in 2025?

According to A. Dūmanas, the reconstruction of the country's largest airport will fundamentally change the existing traffic scheme, making it clearer, more oriented and more convenient for passengers to reach the new departure terminal as well as the existing terminal. Integration of public transport and carriers will also be strengthened.

The traffic scheme redesign plan will provide a parking and other traffic area of around 17,000 sq m. All the existing car parks will be merged into a single unit, doubling the traffic capacity compared to the current solution.

The project will upgrade the surface water collection system, all pavements, lighting, shelters, bicycle parking, electric vehicle charging stations and landscaping.

As many as 52 trees and almost 1,500 plants are to be planted in the airport's new central square by October 2024.

www.vno.lt

Data on interceptions of aircraft completed near the Baltic States' borders on April 29–May 5, 2024

2024-05-07T13:53:11+03:00

On April 29–May 5 fighter aircraft of the NATO Baltic Air Policing Detachment were scrambled once to intercept aircraft of the Russian Federation violating flight rules in international airspace over the Baltic Sea.

On May 2 NATO fighter aircraft intercepted one IL-20 flying through international airspace from the mainland Russia to Kaliningrad without a pre-filed flight plan, with its onboard transponder switched off, though maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.

www.kam.lt

Over a hundred grades from schools across Lithuania put their skills to test in first-ever disinformation literacy exam

2024-05-06T10:40:36+03:00

A disinformation literacy exam - a collaboration between the Office of the Government and Debunk.org - debuted today in Lithuania, with participation of nearly 2000 students from 33 cities and towns. Results will be tallied over the coming week, and the winning class will be honoured at the Office of the Government.

‘Aggressive regimes primarily seek to influence our belief in democracy, freedom, and Western values. The fight against anti-democratic narratives and disinformation will be successful only if not just institutions or non-governmental organizations are involved, but if every citizen critically evaluates information and understands the harm of disinformation to democracy. This exam is not so much a test of knowledge as an opportunity to learn and understand more about these challenges. So I am pleased that young people are expanding their horizons, increasing resilience, and will contribute to the development of a modern and free Lithuania in the future’, said Government Chancellor Giedrė Balčytytė.

‘When compiling the national disinformation literacy exam for schools, we centred our efforts on young people who are deeply immersed in the digital realm. Studies reveal that although students may feel assured in their ability to spot misinformation, many struggle to differentiate a trustworthy global news outlet from a platform propagating Russian narratives. Furthermore, with the advent of increasingly sophisticated artificial intelligence technologies, there is a pressing need to consistently enhance levels of media literacy,’ highlighted Viktoras Daukšas, Director of Debunk.org.

A total of 107 senior grades, representing 61 schools nationwide, participated in the exam after pre-registration. The exam was preceded by discussions on disinformation, artificial intelligence, and social media algorithms between students and experts in disinformation analysis.

For those interested, Debunk.org offers a digital, free course called InfoSkydas intended to teach individuals to identify false and misleading information.

www.lrv.lt

National selection for the European Entrepreneurship Promotion Awards opens

2024-05-03T13:56:06+03:00

The Ministry of the Economy and Innovation invites public authorities, research institutions and businesses to participate in the national selection for the European Entrepreneurship Promotion Awards 2024. The competition is organised by the European Commission and the national selection is managed by the Ministry of the Economy and Innovation.

"There are many inspiring initiatives and projects promoting entrepreneurship in Lithuania. Entrepreneurship is crucial for the country's progress and contributes to economic growth and innovation development. We are investing in promoting entrepreneurship and continuously improving the business environment - last year we allocated more than €30 million to support entrepreneurship. According to the World Innovation Index, we are currently ranked 9th in the world in terms of entrepreneurship policies and entrepreneurial culture," said Aušrinė Armonaitė, Minister of the Economy and Innovation.

The aim of the awards, which have been held in Europe for 19 years, is to highlight outstanding public and private sector initiatives that promote entrepreneurship and improve the business environment.

The selection process takes place in two stages. Only the winners of the first national selection will be considered for the European Award for the Promotion of Entrepreneurship. The final winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in November 2024.

"These awards are an opportunity to share our success stories with the rest of Europe. At the same time, these successful examples of public-private cooperation are a source of inspiration for business and change. The awards also reward initiatives that promote socially responsible, inclusive and sustainable business practices," said Ieva Valeškaitė, Deputy Minister of the Economy and Innovation.

Entrants can apply for one of six nominations: promoting entrepreneurship, investing in entrepreneurial skills, supporting digital transformation, improving the business environment and promoting international business development, financing sustainable change and responsible business. The jury will also award a Grand Prize for the most creative and inspiring entrepreneurship initiative in Europe. It will be selected from each category.

The Award for Fostering the Entrepreneurial Spirit recognises initiatives for cooperation at national, regional or local level. Special attention will be given to youth and women entrepreneurship. The Award for Investment in Entrepreneurial Skills recognises initiatives aimed at improving entrepreneurial, management and employee skills. The Digital Transformation Support Award recognises initiatives that support the digital transformation of enterprises by enabling the creation or use of digital technologies.

The Award for Improving the Business Environment and Promoting the International Development of Enterprises recognises innovative policies and initiatives at national, regional or local level that make Europe the most attractive place to start, grow and expand a business within the Single Market. The Sustainable Transformation Financing Award recognises policies and initiatives at national, regional or local level that promote sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions. The Responsible Business Award rewards initiatives that promote corporate social responsibility and business development among vulnerable groups.

Last year's national winners were the "Pamokos matuojasi Panevėžį" initiative of the Panevėžys Development Agency and the "Future - for electronics" project of Kaunas IN. The initiative "Pamokos matuojasi Panevėžį", which won in the category "Investment in entrepreneurial skills", gives teams of students and teachers the opportunity to solve challenges posed by companies.

The "Future for Electronics" project, which won in the "Improving the Business Environment and Promoting International Business Development" category, aims to increase the attractiveness of electronics studies in Kaunas for students and to respond to the growing demand for electronics professionals.

More information about the awards and the application form can be found here.

https://eimin.lrv.lt/

Lithuania proposes to ban waste imports from Russia at Environment Council

2024-04-30T18:31:46+03:00

At the EU Environment Council in Brussels on Monday, Lithuania, supported by the Czech Republic, Latvia, and Estonia, proposed that EU Member States ban imports of ferrous metals, copper, and aluminum waste and scrap from Russia, as Russia is using the money to finance its war against Ukraine.

"Lithuania proposes that the European Commission assess all options at the EU level and make a proposal to suspend imports of waste from Russia into the EU or allow Member States to take unilateral restrictive measures. We believe that such imports contribute to the financing of Russia's war against Ukraine and should be stopped," Ambassador Jurga Kasputienė, Deputy Permanent Representative of Lithuania to the EU, said at the Environment Council meeting.

Between 2022 and 2023, Russia imported more than €118 million worth of ferrous metals, copper, and aluminum waste and scrap into the EU. Most of these imports pass through Lithuania.

Transboundary shipments of waste are governed by the Basel Convention and the Waste Shipment Regulation, so individual Member States cannot unilaterally ban or restrict such imports at the national level.

The Environment Council also discussed a proposal submitted by the EC last summer to amend the Waste Directive of the European Parliament and the Council. This is a targeted amendment to the Directive covering the areas of textile and food waste.

In the area of textile waste, the proposal aims to ensure a more circular and sustainable management of textile waste, in line with the EU's strategy for sustainable and circular textiles. To this end, it proposes setting up textile waste management systems based on the producer responsibility principle and promoting circularity in product design.

Concrete measures and quantitative targets for food waste reduction are proposed for the prevention of food waste: 10% in the processing and production chain and 30% per capita food waste in retail and consumer areas. EU Member States should reach these targets by 2030, compared to the amount of food waste generated in 2020.

Political discussions were also held on a proposal submitted to the EC on 16 October 2023 on the prevention of plastic pellet losses with a view to reducing microplastic pollution. It provides for the necessary preventive measures to avoid the release of plastic pellets into the environment at all stages of the market supply.

During the discussions, Lithuania noted its support for the general objectives of the proposals but pointed out that some elements of the proposals remain subject to further discussion. The ministerial meeting exchanged views on the following issues. The meeting discussed the EC's communication, published on 6 February, which proposes a 90% reduction in EU greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 compared to 1990 levels.

According to the Lithuanian representatives, the document lacks a detailed analysis of the availability of innovative and advanced greenhouse gas reduction technologies. It is necessary to assess how these technologies will develop in different sectors and whether they will be affordable. There is also a lack of analysis of the EU's financial resources beyond 2030. It is very difficult to assess the financial and economic feasibility of achieving the 2040 targets without information on the financial resources of the new Multiannual Financial Framework.

The final decision on the EU's 2040 climate target will be taken by the European Council this year in June. Following the European Parliament elections later this year, the European Council will decide on the future of the EU. The new EC will present proposals for new legislation to implement the target in June.

https://am.lrv.lt/

Lithuania to get new electric trains under EIB-NIB-LTG Link deal

2024-04-29T16:26:24+03:00

The Nordic Investment Bank (NIB), the European Investment Bank (EIB) and LTG Link have signed a financing agreement for the purchase of electric and battery-powered trains.

NIB and the EIB will provide loans of €100 million each to finance nine electric and six battery trains, which will replace about one-third of the passenger train fleet.

The new trains will not only be more comfortable than diesel trains, but will also reduce journey times. Low-floor cars will make boarding easier for older people, pregnant women, parents with small children and all passengers with reduced mobility.

The electrification of the train fleet will also be environmentally friendly, with the new trains set to reduce the CO2 emissions of passenger transport by an estimated 6 500 tonnes per year. In addition, the scaled back diesel use will result in an estimated 39 000 tonne reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions per year. All electric trains will use electricity generated from renewable energy sources.

“This agreement not only paves the way for significant renewal of the train fleet in Lithuania, but also strengthens our railway integration with Europe. This is particularly important in order to further improve and popularize rail transportation, expand sustainable travel options, and increase the number of passengers. This is a new stage in the Lithuanian railway sector, with the company giving up any ties, train parts or maintenance from eastern neighbors,” said Minister of Transport and Communications Marius Skuodis.

“We are taking another step towards a clean transport future by fulfilling the Group's commitment to contribute to the development of a sustainable transport system in Lithuania. This requires integrated solutions that include both infrastructure projects and services for passengers and businesses. As the electrification of Lithuania's main railway artery, Vilnius-Klaipėda, progresses, we are procuring modern electric trains that will create a new travel culture and experience,” added LTG CEO Egidijus Lazauskas.

Testing of the Swiss-built electric trains in Lithuania is scheduled to begin next year, and the company's customers will start travelling on the first of the new trains in mid-2026. By purchasing these trains, LTG Link will also procure the supply of train parts and technical support services for a very long period of time — until 2037.

The new trains will operate on the popular Vilnius-Klaipėda, Vilnius-Varėna and Kaunas-Siauliai routes. As part of the electrification of the railways, battery-powered trains will run on non-electrified lines.

“Sustainable transport is a high priority for us,” said EIB Vice-President Thomas Östros. “The transition to an electrified railway fleet will benefit both passengers and the environment. As the EU climate bank, we are committed to meeting the European Union's climate goals and the partnership with LTG Link and NIB is a good example of this.”

Both the EIB and NIB have provided financing for LTG Group projects in the past, with the EIB funding the previous set of trains slated for replacement. This is the sixth NIB loan to be granted for rail transport development in Lithuania.

“With the ongoing cooperation with LTG Group companies, we are helping to green the transportation sector, which is still one of the main emitters in Lithuania,” said NIB Vice-President and Head of Lending Jeanette Vitasp. “Through this fleet renewal, LTG Link is not only making their operations more environmentally friendly but can also encourage more travellers to choose trains over cars for their journeys.”

The value of the trains, related services and spare parts to be purchased is €226.5 million.

www.sumin.lrv.lt

Data on interceptions of aircraft completed near the Baltic States' borders on April 15–21, 2024

2024-04-25T16:16:18+03:00

On April 15–21 the NATO Air Policing Mission fighter aircraft were scrambled four times to intercept aircraft of the Russian Federation violating flight rules in international airspace over the Baltic Sea and once to patrol the airspace over the Lithuania, Latvian and Estonian border with Russia and Belarus.

On April 15 NATO Baltic Air Policing fighter aircraft were scrambled to conduct patrolling over the Baltic Sea.

On April 15 fighter aircraft conducting the NATO QRA mission were scrambled to intercept one IL-76 and one IL-20 flying in international airspace from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad. The IL-20 aircraft had no flight plan, its onboard transponder was switched off, the aircraft kept radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre. The IL-76 had no pre-filed flight plan, its onboard transponder was on, the crew kept radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.

On April 16 NATO fighter aircraft were scrambled to intercept two SU30SM flying in international airspace from Kaliningrad and back, without the flight plans, onboard transponders off, not maintaining radio communication.

On April 18 NATO fighter aircraft were scrambled to intercept one SU-27UB and one IL-20. The SU-27UB was flying in international airspace from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad. It had no pre-filed flight plan, its onboard transponder was off, the crew was maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre. The IL-20 was flying from Kaliningrad and back without a pre-file flight plan, without using the onboard transponders, but maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.

On April 19 NATO fighter jets intercepted one IL-20 flying in international airspace without the flight plan, its onboard transponder was off, the crew maintained radio communication with the regional traffic control centre.

www.kam.lt

Lithuania Receives International Safety Rating From FAA

2024-04-17T14:21:25+03:00

Lithuania has achieved the top ranking (Category 1) from the Federal Aviation administration following its first International Aviation Safety Assessment. This opens the door for Lithuanian airlines to conduct commercial flights into the United States with aircraft registered in Lithuania.

In order for this process to run smoothly, all the necessary procedures and regulations were harmonised enabling the airlines registered in Lithuania operate flights both to and from the USA. Amendments to the Law on Aviation were also implemented, and the fines provided for in the Code of Administrative Offences for offences related to aviation activities were increased.

“After almost 3 years of intensive work by the Ministry of Transport and Communications and the institutions, Lithuania has successfully completed the audit procedure of the US Federal Aviation Administration and was included in the list of countries in our target category. This creates favourable conditions for airlines operating in our country to conduct transatlantic operations. This is an important impetus for the development of the country’s aviation business and increasing competitiveness in the global market,” said Marius Skuodis, Minister of Transport and Communications.

U.S Ambassador to Lithuania Kara C. McDonald said, “I congratulate the government of Lithuania, especially the Ministry of Transport and Communications and civil aviation authorities, on this achievement. This Category 1 ranking provides opportunities to expand connections and deepen economic ties between the United States and Lithuania.”

Airlines registered in Lithuania will be able to freely conduct operations in the USA not only from Lithuania, but also from other countries of the world. For example, a company based in the Caribbean or Canada can order cargo to be flown to the USA through Lithuanian carriers.

Depending on the nature of the flights – whether they will be one-off, charter or scheduled – air carriers will still need to go through certain procedures, submit applications and obtain permission from the US Department of Transportation (DOT).

In order to grant permission to operate flights in the US, the FAA conducts an audit of a foreign country’s civil aviation oversight system, which audits its compliance with the civil aviation safety standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and assigns Category 1 or 2 to countries. The right to operate new flights to the territory of the United States is granted only to air carriers from the countries that were assigned Category 1. Such an audit was conducted in Lithuania in April 2023, with conclusions presented later, and at the end of last year, the FAA experts came to the country to evaluate how their additional requirements were implemented in order to be able to operate flights in the US airspace.

“The entire process lasted about two and a half years, with several state institutions involved – the Ministry of Transport and Communications, the Seimas and the Government, the Lithuanian Transport Safety Administration and the Public Enterprise Transport Competence Agency. We are pleased that the work of our specialist team in preparation for the FAA audit was evaluated positively. We hope that Lithuanian airlines will successfully develop their operations in a new region where they have not operated flights before,” said this project’s manager Mantas Kerdokas, advisor to the Strategic Planning and Finance Division of the Transport Competence Agency (TKA).

According to the TKA, 1 company has already submitted an application to fly in the US airspace. It is expected that 2 more carriers could use the opportunity to fly passengers, mail and cargo to or within the USA.

Creation of new opportunities for the development of activities of the Lithuanian aviation companies and access to the USA and other priority markets is one of goals provided for in the Lithuanian aviation guidelines until 2030. These Guidelines, prepared and approved a couple of years ago together with market participants, set priorities and strategic directions for developing the country’s aviation sector and improving air transportation.

www.sumin.lrv.lt

Euro 7: Council adopts new rules on emission limits for cars, vans and trucks

2024-04-16T12:15:46+03:00

The Council has adopted the Euro 7 regulation, which lays down rules on emission limits for road vehicles and battery durability. This is the last step in the decision-making procedure.

The text adopted covers cars, vans and heavy-duty vehicles in one single legal act and aims to further lower air pollutant emissions from exhaust fumes and brakes. The new regulation also establishes stricter lifetime requirements.

Better and cleaner vehicles

The Euro 7 regulation establishes rules for the exhaust emissions of road vehicles, but also for other types of emissions such as tyre abrasion and brake particle emissions. It also introduces requirements for battery durability. For cars and vans, the regulation keeps the existing Euro 6 exhaust emission limits but introduces stricter requirements for solid particles. For heavy-duty buses and lorries, the regulation imposes more stringent limits for various pollutants, including some that have not been regulated until now, such as nitrous oxide (N2O). In addition, Euro 7 introduces stricter limits for particle emissions produced when braking, with specific limits for electric vehicles. The new rules also include stricter lifetime requirements for all vehicles in terms of both mileage and lifetime.

Next steps
Following the Council’s approval today of the European Parliament's position, the legislative act has been adopted.

After being signed by the President of the European Parliament and the President of the Council, the regulation will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union and will enter into force on the twentieth day following its publication.

The dates of application of the regulation will depend on the kind of vehicle concerned:

30 months for new types of cars and vans, and 42 months for new cars and vans
48 months for new types of buses, trucks and trailers, and 60 months for new buses, lorries and trailers
30 months for new systems, components or separate technical units to be fitted in cars and vans, and 48 months for those to be fitted in buses, lorries and trailers

Background
The Euro 7 regulation, which is part of the Commission’s 2020 Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy and the 2021 Zero-Pollution Action Plan, was presented by the Commission on 10 November 2022. The Council adopted its position, or ‘general approach’, on 25 September 2023. The Council and the Parliament reached a provisional political agreement on 18 December 2023.

On 19 April 2023 the European Parliament and the Council adopted Regulation (EU) 2023/851 to strengthen the CO2 emission performance standards for new passenger cars and new light commercial vehicles, which sets a 100% reduction target for both cars and vans from 2035 onwards. While industry prepares for this change, which means that new combustion cars and vans will be banned on the internal market from 2035, such vehicles will remain available. Other internal combustion vehicles (lorries, buses and other heavy-duty vehicles) will continue to be produced after that date. The Euro 7 rules will be necessary to cover the emissions of cars and vans until that date, while other rules contained in the regulation (concerning brakes, tyres and battery life, for instance) will continue to apply to new cleaner cars and vans after 2035.

https://www.consilium.europa.eu/

Parliament adopts reform of the EU electricity market

2024-04-15T12:32:42+03:00

The reform adopted on Thursday will make the EU electricity market more stable, affordable, and sustainable.

The measures, composed of a regulation and a directive already agreed upon with the Council, were adopted with 433 in favour, 140 against and 15 abstentions, and 473 votes to 80, with 27 abstentions, respectively.

The law will protect consumers against volatile prices. MEPs ensured that they will have the right to access fixed-price contracts or dynamic price contracts, and receive important information on the options they sign up to. Suppliers will not be allowed to unilaterally change the terms of a contract.

MEPs also secured that EU countries can prohibit suppliers from cutting the electricity supply of vulnerable customers, including during disputes between suppliers and customers.

Contracts for Difference

The legislation provides for so-called “Contracts for Difference” (CfDs), or equivalent schemes with the same effects, to encourage energy investment. In a CfD, a public authority compensates the energy producer if market prices fall too steeply, but it collects payments from them if prices are too high. The use of CfDs will be allowed in all investments in new electricity production, whether from renewable or nuclear energy.

Electricity price crisis

The text sets out a mechanism to declare an electricity price crisis. In a situation of very high prices and under certain conditions, the EU may declare a regional or EU-wide electricity price crisis, allowing member states to take temporary measures to set electricity prices for SMEs and energy intensive industrial consumers.

Quote

“This reform puts citizens at the forefront of electricity market design. The text includes measures to protect citizens, especially the most vulnerable and to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy sources. The Parliament has taken a step forward in democratising energy, creating a market design that responds to the failures exposed by the energy crisis. All consumers, including micro, small, and medium-size enterprises will have access to long-term, affordable and stable prices.” lead MEP Nicolás González Casares (S&D, ES) said.

Next steps

After Parliament’s approval, Council also needs to formally adopt the legislation to become law.

Background

Energy prices have been rising since mid-2021, initially in the context of the post-COVID-19 economic recovery. However, energy prices rose steeply due to gas supply problems following Russia's war against Ukraine in February 2022. High gas prices had an immediate effect on electricity prices, as they are linked together under the merit order system, where the most expensive (usually fossil fuel-based) energy source sets the overall electricity price.

Ref.: 20240408IPR20316
www.europarl.europa.eu