Lithuanian government to consider lifting storm emergency declaration

The Lithuanian government will decide on Wednesday whether to lift the nationwide emergency declared after a storm damaged farmers’ property, LRT reported.

The emergency was declared on August 26. The issue was proposed for consideration by the National Crisis Management Centre, according to Agriculture Minister’s representative Justas Jaskonis.

“The minister probably will not object” to lifting the emergency, Jaskonis told BNS. The Agriculture Ministry has collected data from farmers showing 25,000 hectares of affected land. The amount needed for compensation remains unclear.

National Crisis Management Centre adviser Darius Buta said the state had other tools to deal with the storm’s aftermath. Electricity-related problems have been resolved, and applications from farmers have been collected, he said. Additional applications will also be accepted if submitted.

The declaration enabled Lithuania to apply for European Union support for farmers affected by the storm.