The candidate for European Central Bank president, Christine Lagarde, comes to Parliament on 4 September to answer MEPs’ questions ahead of a plenary vote on her candidacy.

September 4-5, President Gitanas Nausėda will travel to Brussels to visit the European Parliament, NATO headquarters, the European Commission, the European Council and Lithuanian Permanent Representations to the EU and NATO.

With the summer recess now over, committees will quiz ECB presidential hopeful Christine Lagarde, vote on EU 2020 budget positions and discuss Finland’s EU presidency priorities.

On August 28-29 Minister of National Defence Raimundas Karoblis participated in the European Union (EU) informal meeting of defence ministers in Helsinki. The meeting was started with a working dinner where ministers discussed the use of artificial intellect in defense and security. “We need to ensure the development of technologies in the field of defence and keep pace with world leaders. Ethical norms and legal regulation in this area are necessary but must not hinder technological development. We have to maintain a balance between security and humanitarian aspects, ”said the Minister of National Defence at the meeting. The Minister also mentioned that Lithuania is already using artificial intellect in some technologies used in the field of defence. As an example, he gave the use of artificial intellect to detect cyber attacks. The working dinner was also attended by High Representative of the European Union Federica Mogherini, representatives of other EU institutions, NATO and the United Nations.

On 30 August, the Permanent Representative of Lithuania to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Donatas Tamulaitis presented his letters of credence to the Director-General Roberto Azevêdo in Geneva.

President Gitanas Nausėda will take part in the events marking the 80th anniversary of the outbreak of World War II in Warsaw, Poland. The commemorations will be attended by more than 20 world leaders, including the presidents of Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Slovakia, Latvia, Iceland, Hungary, Ukraine, and Georgia.

On 28 August, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius received the outgoing British Ambassador to Lithuania Claire Lawrence.

President Gitanas Nausėda met with João Gomesu Cravinho, Minister of Defense of Portugal. The President and the Minister discussed the security situation in the region as well as in Europe, opportunities for enhanced cooperation on cyber security and the forthcoming summit of the Alliance to be held in London.

The Seimas adopted amendments to the Law on Elections to the Seimas providing for the establishment of a single-member constituency for Lithuanian expatriates. The new provisions of the Law were adopted by 88 votes in favour, with 4 votes against and 14 abstentions.

President Gitanas Nausėda met with Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid, Prime Minister Jüri Ratas and President of the Riigikogu Henn Põlluaas during the visit to Estonia. The two Presidents discussed bilateral political and economic relations, strengthening of the Baltic trilateral cooperation, security situation in the Baltic region, NATO and EU agenda, including negotiations on the new EU financial framework.