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"It has to be admitted that economic growth forecast in the first quarter of 2015 was below expectations," the prime minister told radio Ziniu Radijas.

According to Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, in the first quarter of 2015 compared with the previous quarter, Lithuania's GDP growth fell by 0.6%. Meanwhile, the aggregate GDP growth of all 28 EU member states was +0.4%.

The prime minister says that in the first four months of 2015 export was by 12% below the level recorded in the same period of 2014.

Butkevicius said that export of goods and services to other countries has not yet recovered and caught up with the previous level of export to Russia. In the first four months of 2015, export to EU member states increased by 5% and to other non-EU countries excluding Russia by 6-7%. Butkevicius added that in order for the economic plan to be fulfilled, export should grow by another 7-8% in the upcoming months.

According to the prime minister, increased domestic consumption and the use of EU structural funds from 2014-2020 financing period should stimulate Lithuania's economic growth.

The Bank of Lithuania has forecast that Lithuania's GDP will grow by 2% in 2015. Previously a 2.7% GDP growth was predicted. Meanwhile in 2016 Lithuania's GDP should grow by 3.4%.