In view of the Russia’s war against Ukraine and in response to the request expressed by The Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development of the Republic of Moldova, Lithuania grants permission to all international freight carriers from Moldova, who are currently in the territories of Russia and Belarus, to transit through Lithuania in order to return to their home country.

The Main Board of the Association of Poles in Lithuania has issued a statement condemning the actions of the Kremlin, in which it also calls for prayer for peace in Europe and around the world.

The United Kingdom (UK) company begins preparation of a business plan for flights to strategic destinations for Lithuania, which will identify the most effective ways to promote air transport from Lithuania to the target markets for the country’s economy and inbound tourism and improve the country’s accessibility by direct flights over the next decade. According to the agreement with the Ministry of Transport and Communications, this plan will be prepared in the next 5 months by the UK company Informa Markets Ltd., which has won an international public procurement.

Foreign leaders extend congratulations to President Gitanas Nausėda and the Lithuanian people on February 16, the Day of the Restoration of the State of Lithuania, expressing solidarity and support for Lithuania during this tense period as well as wishing success, harmony and unity to all.

As of Tuesday, 15 February, travel restrictions on arrivals to Lithuania from the countries of the European Economic Area will be eased – a negative test result for COVID-19 will not be required even for the unvaccinated and non-recovered travellers. Third-country nationals and legal residents of third countries that have joined the EU Digital COVID Certificate system will be able to enter Lithuania, but those who do not meet the vaccination or recovery criteria will be required to present a negative test result. Foreigners from other countries will be able to enter Lithuania as of 31 March; they will need to submit a document confirming either vaccination, recovery, or a negative test result for COVID-19.

In the first month of this year, Lithuanian Airports handled more than 250 thousand passengers and more than 3 thousand flights. By comparison, in January last year, the three airports handled only around 53,000 passengers and just over 1,300 flights.

On Wednesday, President Gitanas Nausėda visited the Lithuanian Great Hetman Jonušas Radvila Training Regiment in Rukla where he attended a ceremony to mark the fifth anniversary of the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group.

In order to achieve the goal of the Ministry of Transport and Communications to ensure by 2025 the internet speed of at least 100 Mbps not only for households and public institutions in metropolitan areas but also in remote settlements, during 2021 alone, Public Institution Plačiajuostis Internetas laid about 200 km of new fibre-optic lines and connected 49 infrastructure facilities. During the past year, the provision of services was launched in a total of 86 new settlements.

Almost 300 Airbus employees in France who lost their jobs because of the COVID-19 pandemic should receive €3.7 million in EU aid.

The beginning of 2022 and the rising total number of COVID-19 cases already show a completely different trend - European countries are no longer moving in the direction of bans, but on the contrary, the requirements for travellers are being relaxed, and, according to the aviation experts of Lithuanian airports, an increasing number of countries will only check the documents proving the immunity of the individual passenger, without any additional requirements. The countries no longer see any point in introducing new or maintaining the existing stricter restrictions, making conditions easier for travellers.