President Dalia Grybauskaitė opened the first ever Israeli Litvak Forum in Tel Aviv. In her address to Jews with roots in Lithuania and their descendants, the President emphasized their special contribution to establishing Lithuania's ties with the world and invited them to foster what connects Lithuanian and Jewish nations.

On 21 October in Kyiv, the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Mantvydas Bekešius met with the first Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Natalia Galibarenko. The officials discussed the implementation of the Minsk agreements, preparations for the local elections in Ukraine scheduled for 25 October, and prospects for bilateral relations between Lithuania and Ukraine.

On 19-20 October in Copenhagen, the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Neris Germanas attended a meeting of State Secretaries of the Foreign Ministries' of the countries of the Nordic Baltic Eight (NB8) in Copenhagen. The annual meeting focused on NB8 cooperation plans for 2016, the Eastern Partnership, energy security and other important issues.

This week MEPs vote on a resolution on the prevention of radicalisation and the recruitment of young Europeans by terrorist organisations. The European banking system and financial stability will be the subject of a debate in the economic and monetary affairs committee, while the foreign affairs committee is set to discuss the EU's strategy towards Iran following the nuclear deal. A delegation of MEPs travels to Ukraine to observe the local elections there on 25 October.

President Dalia Grybauskaitė, who is in Israel on an official visit, met with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin. The meeting – the first between the Lithuanian President and the President of Israel, who was elected last year – focused on the most relevant issues relating to regional security and bilateral cooperation. The Israeli President, who emphasizes his Litvak roots, and Dalia Grybauskaitė also discussed measures to strengthen Israel's ties with Lithuania.

Europe needs a binding permanent system for relocating refugees, EP President Martin Schulz told heads of state and government at the start of a European Council dedicated to migration. "European solidarity is about sharing responsibilities and leaving no-one alone," he said. The summit on 15-16 October will also deal with the economic and monetary union, the UK's referendum on the EU as well as Turkey and Syria.

At the end of her visit in Germany on Thursday, Loreta Graužinienė, Speaker of the Seimas, met with Wolfgang Hellmich, Chairman of the Defence Committee of the Bundestag. They discussed bilateral cooperation, strengthening of regional security, and new challenges for the EU and NATO. Considerable attention was given to the regulation of the Ukrainian crisis, support to Eastern Partnership countries, and refugee matters.

President Dalia Grybauskaitė will be travelling to Israel on an official visit on October 19-21. She will be accompanied by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Economy as well as by the Chair of the Jewish Community of Lithuania, Faina Kukliansky.

October 15, President Dalia Grybauskaitė will travel to Brussels where the European Council will discuss topical EU issues – EU follow-up actions to resolve the refugee crisis, the situation in Syria, issues related to strengthening the European Monetary Union, and Britain's planned referendum on EU membership.