At its autumn session, the Seimas achieved a milestone by adopting a crucial strategic documents, namely, the National Progress Strategy Lithuania 2050. This ground-breaking document reinforces the foundations of the state and establishes ways for ensuring national security, attaining demographic and social stability, rejuvenating the economy, preserving the environment, and promoting equitable development across all regions of the country. Lithuania 2050 will also help to restructure public administration by making it flexible, smart and inclusive and strengthening trust among citizens, government and civic organisations.

Simonas Šatūnas, a career diplomat, will take up the post of Vice-Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania from 2024. He will replace the current incumbent, Jovita Neliupšienė, who has been appointed the Head of the European Union (EU) Mission to the United States.

The Ministry of National Defence is looking to enhance Lithuania’s air defence capabilities with a new mobile short-range air defence system. The capability is planned to be procured for the Lithuanian Armed Forces in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence of Sweden.

MEPs and national governments reached a long-sought agreement to revamp the EU’s asylum and migration legislation.

Early Wednesday morning, the first train of the new Vilnius-Riga route set off from Vilnius Railway Station. The new railway connection was introduced by Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė and Minister of Transport and Communications, Marius Skuodis. The Prime Minister later met with Latvia’s Prime Minister, Evika Silina to discuss regional security, support for Ukraine in countering Russia’s armed aggression, and the progress in the regional infrastructure projects.

In a resolution, MEPs highlight the need for a well-functioning European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) to help member states manage the EU’s external borders.

President Gitanas Nausėda began his working visit to Brussels, where on Wednesday he participated in the EU–Western Balkans summit. The meeting focused on EU engagement with the Western Balkans, as well as on the common security and foreign policy and the Euro-integration of the individual countries in the region.

President Metsola opened the 11-14 December plenary session in Strasbourg with the following announcements.

On 5 December the Permanent Representative of Lithuania in Geneva Ambassador Darius Staniulis took part in the annual UNHCR Pledging Conference and announced Lithuania’s pledge of 100,000 euros unearmarked support to the budget of the UNHCR in 2024.

A Parliament delegation arrives in Dubai today to participate in the COP28 climate change conference, which reviews progress on the implementation of the Paris Agreement.