Lietuva in brief

Although in the last seven years the number of schoolchildren in Lithuania’s schools decreased by almost a third, this year there are 2,000 more first graders compared to 2012, reports ELTA. According to the data of the Ministry of Education and Science, 351,400 schoolchildren will start the new school year, around 29,000 of them are first graders - 2,000 more than last year. 1,229 primary and secondary schools and 260 non-formal education institutions will operate this year. 40,000 students will attend 70 Lithuanian vocational schools, while 28,000 students will study in Lithuanian universities and colleges.

Lithuanian Parliament Speaker Vydas Gedvilas congratulated rowers Donata Vistartaite and Milda Valciukaite on winning gold medals at the 2013 World Rowing Championships Women’s Double Sculls event in South Korea, reports ELTA. “You gave all your strength, you believed in yourselves, fought to the very end - and won deservedly. The breathtaking final will be remembered both by you and the spectators. Millions of people watch sports competitions for moments like this. By winning you have once again proved that Lithuania, even though being small, has athletes who are much stronger than their rivals from major countries. Thank you for sounding Lithuania’s name and for representing the Lithuanian people with this wonderful moment. We are sending the warmest regards to you in South Korea. Know that we are smiling and celebrating together with you. I wish the very best of luck to you and more successful starts and victories in the future,” the parliament speaker said in his greeting.

In association with the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the informal meeting of the Budget Committee of the Council of the EU will take place in Vilnius and Druskininkai on Sept. 4-6, the official Lithuanian Presidency Web site eu2013.lt says. The representatives of the EU Council, European Commission and the member states will discuss the EU budget related issues, including the progress on the Galileo and Copernicus projects aimed at a fully operational service, evolution of the EU decentralized agencies and related constraints, evolution of payments versus commitments of the EU budget and lessons of the 2007-2013 financial period, as well as other issues. The participants of the event are to take a tour to Druskininkai on Sept. 6. The local municipality will present the recent development of the town, the guests will also visit the projects funded by the EU structural assistance. The informal meeting of the Budget Committee of the Council of the European Union is organized by the Ministry of Finance of Lithuania. Galileo is the EU global navigation satellite system, and Copernicus is the European Earth Observation Program, covering marine, atmosphere, land and climate change monitoring as well as support to emergency and security.