Lithuania plans higher funding for STT and VSD

Lithuania’s proposed 2027 budget would increase funding for the Special Investigation Service (STT) by 3.3 million euros and for the State Security Department (VSD) by 5 million euros, LRT reported.

The STT said it welcomed the increase and considered its planned budget sufficient to ensure effective and high-quality work. Its allocation would rise to 23.1 million euros, from this year’s budget.

The VSD declined to comment, saying the budget had not yet been approved. Its funding is set to rise from nearly 64.6 million euros this year to almost 70 million euros in 2027. Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius said a larger share would go towards intelligence officers’ salaries.

Projections for 2028 and 2029 put the STT’s annual budget at 20.7 million euros and intelligence funding at 66.7 million euros.

The proposed 2027 public finance plan forecasts a general government deficit of 3.8 percent, above the 3 percent Maastricht threshold. The budget will now be considered by the Seimas, Lithuania’s parliament.