Minister of Finance: “We need to increase the utilisation rate of EU investments as they improve both the life of every Lithuanian and the business environment”
The funding of the European Union Funds’ Investments Programme for 2021-2027, intended for strengthening Lithuania's progress, a cleaner environment, improvement of communication or for social projects, directly affects the country's residents and investors. Therefore, the utilisation rate of EU investments needs to be increased to bring real change not only to the big cities but also to all regions of the country - Minister of Finance Taurimas Valys highlights.
“Implementing the Programme of the 21st Government, we seek an efficient and transparent use of the budget and European investments in the most diverse areas of life. One of which is the improvement of transport, digital communication and engineering infrastructure. It is essential this funding to actually improve the lives of the people of the country and to increase the accessibility of the regions, the country's attractiveness for investors and security”, Minister of Finance T. Valys says.
Until the beginning of July, under the European Union Funds’ Investments Programme, calls for over half a billion euro (EUR 548 million) have been launched for the development of communication in Lithuania, and EUR 295 million of EU funds has been paid out to project promoters. Also, one of the more important examples of the utilisation of European investments is the reconstruction of the Vilnius-Utena highway, popularly called “concrete road”. Total value of this reconstruction project is EUR 120 million, of which EUR 102 million is EU investments. Works are scheduled to be completed this year.
“After the reconstruction of this road, communication and traffic safety between Vilnius, Molėtai and Utena will improve significantly and this will create value added not only for residents of these cities and towns, but also for the entire North-Eastern Lithuania”, the Minister says.
Another important project is the second stage of the electrification of the railway section Kaišiadorys - Klaipėda (up to Draugystės station) (EUR 123 million, of which EUR 82.5 million is EU funding). Currently, three railway lines in Lithuania are fully electrified, namely, Vilnius – Kaunas, Vilnius – Trakai and Vilnius – Kena. This represents 8% of the country's total rail network. After implementation of the aforementioned project, the length of electrified railways in the country will reach almost 28%. Electrification of railways reduces fossil fuel consumption and increases sustainability.
The reconstruction of the section from 85 to 97 km of the state importance highway Kaunas–Marijampolė–Suvalkai is also relevant (total project value is EUR 29 million, of which EUR 25 million is EU funding). Moreover, 8 bridges were built or reconstructed, 9 viaducts, 7 tunnel crossings, 19 km of acoustic walls were installed, also two the most modern rest areas in Lithuania were built. This increases traffic safety and convenience on the Via Baltica highway.
In total, under the EU Investments Programme, almost EUR 6 billion was allocated to Lithuania, currently announced calls for EUR 6.52 billion, contracts signed for EUR 4.54 billion and EUR 1.66 billion has been paid out.
To apply for active calls is currently possible on the website https://2021.esinvesticijos.lt/lt.
Last updated: 30-07-2026
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