MEPs vote on new rules to improve the safety of products being sold in the EU, plans to combat fraud of non-cash payments and a proposal to enable you to use your pension savings abroad.

On August 31 the handover ceremony of the NATO Baltic Air Policing Mission took place at the Šiauliai Lithuanian Air Force Base. The incoming contingent of the Belgian Air Force is taking over the lead of the mission from servicemen of the Portugal Air Force and the Spanish Air Force providing augmentation of the mission.

The State of the European Union debate takes place on Wednesday 12 September at 9.00 CET, looking back at what has been achieved and what still needs to be done.

EUSF aid worth €34 million, to support reconstruction in Greece, Poland, Lithuania and Bulgaria following natural disasters in 2017, was approved by the Budgets Committee on Wednesday.

The Government Chancellor Algirdas Stončaitis met Tsewang Namgyal, a newly appointed Ambassador of the Republic of India to Lithuania.

In the coming months, MEPs will continue to debate the future of Europe and vote on new rules for energy, telecommunications and transport.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel will likely visit Lithuania in mid-September.

The Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis took part in the meeting of the Prime Ministers of three Baltic States and the Prime Minister of the State of Israel. During the meeting the participants discussed topical issues of the region, transatlantic relations, relations with Russia, situation in the Middle East, joint actions to combat terrorism, strengthening of cybersecurity and information security. The discussions also covered the issue of cooperation in the field of high technologies through the development of education and research and promotion of tourism.

The Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis met the Prime Minister of the State of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu and discussed the prospects for future cooperation in the fields of economy, defence, cybersecurity, science and innovations, culture and tourism. It was a historic and first visit of the Head of the Government of Israel to Lithuania.

On 21 August Minister of National Defence R. Karoblis met Member of the Bundestag of the Federal Republic of Germany and Foreign Affairs Committee Christian Schmidt. At the meeting the Minister and the Member of Bundestag discussed the security situation in the region, results of recent NATO summit and further steps in enhancing defence capabilities in Lithuania and the Baltic region. They also discussed defence enhancement initiatives in the European Union format.