Lithuania's Economy Minister Virginijus Sinkevicius, proposed on Tuesday for the position of European commissioner in charge of environment and oceans, named the development of circular economy, reducing the use of plastic and reducing ocean pollution will be among his priorities.

On September 9–11 Vice Minister of National Defence Vytautas Umbrasas and a formal delegation will be conducting a visit to the United States of America. Vice Minister V. Umbrasas will attend an event organised by the German Marshal Fund and the Ministry of Defence of Latvia and meetings in the Congress, also, the meeting of secretaries of U.S. and Nordic-Baltic ministries of defence and memorial observance of September 11 at the Pentagon.

Christine Lagarde was recommended for the post of ECB President on Wednesday evening by MEPS who had questioned her throughout the morning on her competences and plans.

Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis has met with Speaker of the Parliament of the Kingdom of Sweden, Andreas Norlen.

On the second day of the visit, President Gitanas Nausėda met with President-elect of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. The meeting focused on the new EU agenda and the multiannual financial framework. Lithuania emphasized that ambitious agenda needed an ambitious approach to funding.

During the visit to Brussels, President Gitanas Nausėda had the first meeting with President of the European Parliament David Maria Sassoli. During the meeting, the EU strategic agenda was discussed. The President presented Lithuania’s priorities in areas of energy security, internal market, the Eastern Partnership, relations with Russia and deepening of cohesion.

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.