Lithuania has to ensure technological progress and innovation to avoid falling into a middle-income trap, a senior European Commission (EC) official said on June 37th.

The Lithuanian government backed on June 28th the government's proposal to raise excise tax rates for cigarettes and other tobacco products, including liquids used in e-cigarettes, and to subject nicotine free e-liquids to an excise duty starting March 2019.

Axis Industries, the winner of the tender for the construction and concession of a national stadium in Vilnius, and its partners agree to fund the construction and not to demand advance payment.

Statistics Lithuania informs that, based on final data obtained from customs declarations, Intrastat reporting and VAT returns data, exports in 2017 amounted to EUR 26.41 billion, imports – EUR 28.52 billion. Exports of goods of Lithuanian origin amounted to EUR 15.69 billion. The foreign trade deficit of Lithuania amounted to EUR 2.11 billion.

At Lithuania's initiative, nine EU member states have agreed to create a cyber rapid response force, Defense Minister Raimundas Karoblis said.

More people came to Lithuania in May 2018 than left, which is the first such month since 2004 when Lithuania joined the European Unions, figures from the Statistics Lithuania have shown.

Revenue of Lithuania's electronic communications market stood at 167.9 million euros in the first quarter of 2018, up 1.6% from 165.28 million euros in the same period last year.

Lithuanian tourists spent 186.5 million euros abroad in the first quarter of 2018, up 10.7% year-on-year, the latest figures from the Statistics Lithuania have revealed.

The European Court of Human Rights has awarded thousands of euros to several Lithuanian citizens for stalling land restitution in Vilnius Region.

Milk purchase prices in Lithuania dropped in May 2018, from April when they rose for a fifth month in a row. Egidijus Simonis, director of milk processors' associations Pieno Centras, says prices dropped due to a drought.