Past events
18:00
Visitors’ Center of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania
Discussion: An active state: what are we doing with regulations and prohibitions?
The event is held in Lithuanian.
There is much talk in the EU (and Lithuania) about the so-called regulatory environment. M. Draghi’s report on European competitiveness particularly emphasized that one of the biggest obstacles is excessive regulation of the business environment. A year after the report, it is clear that the EU has implemented only a tenth of the proposals.
In Lithuania, government programs also include proposals on how to reduce the administrative and legal regulatory burden on both residents and local and foreign businesses.
But what is the fate of these proposals? How do the institutions that control business operate, for example? Are they audited? Is the overall regulatory burden measured? Does the system of regulations and prohibitions operate on at least a “one-in, one-out” basis?
18:00
Visitors’ Center of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania
Discussion: The competitiveness of the Lithuanian economy as a strategic perspective for the state
The event is held in Lithuanian.
We talk a lot about Lithuania’s economic competitiveness and strengthening it as a long-term prospect for the state, which would allow for consistent budget growth. This is linked to the tax system, economic structure, innovation, investment, the legal environment, the labor market, education, regional development, and reducing social exclusion. All of these things are important. But are there areas that could provide a real breakthrough? For example: higher employment, a more determined fight against the shadow economy, increasing labor productivity?
Vilnius Bernardinai Garden
Institute „Liberalis“ in the discussion festival „BŪTENT!”
Discussion in English – Boots on the Ground, Allies in Action: German brigade in Lithuania (August 30, 2025 at 17:00)
Germany’s decision to permanently deploy a brigade in Lithuania is one of the most significant defense commitments in NATO’s recent history and a turning point for our security. But what does this mean in practice? The discussion will examine the future of Lithuanian defense through the prism of real cooperation with one of our strongest allies.
- How will the German brigade integrate into the Lithuanian army and society?
- What challenges do soldiers face when deployed on long-term service abroad?
- Can civil society support this presence outside the military sphere? And if a real crisis were to occur, would everything possible be done to enable the brigade to act immediately?
- Can civil society support this presence outside the military sphere? And if a real crisis were to occur, would everything possible be done to ensure that the brigade could act immediately?
Moderator: Julius Freiherr von Freytag-Loringhoven, Head of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom’s Baltic States Office in Vilnius
Participants: Representatives of the German and Lithuanian defense sectors, experts, and the public.
Other discussions at the festival will be held in Lithuanian.
17:30
Online
How to make liberalism sexy (again)?
Discussion in English.
What makes ideology sexy? What does a liberal utopia look like? And what does it mean to be a “good liberal” – a politician, bureaucrat, or expert?
We will seek answers to these questions in a remote seminar lecture with Sven Gerst, a philosopher with an interdisciplinary education in philosophy, politics, and economics, who studied at King’s College London, LSE, and the University of Mannheim, and who has worked at Harvard, Duke, and National Taiwan Universities.
The discussion will also feature:
– Julius Freiherr von Freytag-Loringhoven, Director of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for the Baltic States
– Prof. Raimundas Lopata, Director of the Institute „Liberalis“.