Although the number of bribery cases in Lithuania has decreased in the past year, Lithuanians are still the most corrupt country in the EU. It was revealed by Transparency International research.

On Lithuanian State Day, the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania was opened in Vilnius.

The calm beginning of the Lithuanian presidency was disturbed by the verbal attack on the Polish member of the European Parliament prof. Mirosław Piotrowski by Vytautas Landsbergis. This occurred because Piotrowski encouraged Lithuanian government to stop the persecution of Polish ethnic minority. V. Landsbergis called these words the lie perpetuated by Polish nationalists. This attack – a demonstration of disdain towards the Poles of Vilnius region and it has nothing to do with common euro-parliamentary traditions.

The insurance company PZU Lithuania ordered a survey in order to find out what Lithuanians are planning for the future and what possible demographic changes might occur. In general, the most intriguing question was whether they associate their children's future with Lithuania or with other countries.

Yesterday, during the European Parliament's plenary session in Strasbourg, the debates took place regarding Lithuanian presidency of the EU Council. The discussion was joined by the President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė. During this opening event, the President of Lithuania declared her expectations and priorities for Lithuania during this period.

Starting July 15th, bikes will be available for self-serve rental for Vilnius residents and visitors. As part of a Vilnius City Municipality initiative, JCDecaux will open 24 bike stations in the city center that will offer riders more than 200 bikes for rent. Investments into the project have reached 6.4 mil. Euros.

On 5 July at 16.00, the official opening ceremony of the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union will begin in Vilnius. The start of the Presidency of the EU Council will be celebrated in the historical venue of Vilnius University’s, inner courtyard. The courtyard is named after Petras Skarga, the first rector, and is now symbolically decorated with stylized flags of all European Union Member States.

The 20th of June marked another sad anniversary in the history of the Vilnius region. On that day in 1944 year in the Glitiškės village, the Lithuanian police officers murdered the local Polish habitants. The deed was done by the 258th branch of Lithuanian battalion led by lieutenant Polekauskas.