Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis has noted in his meeting with Head of Government of Japan Shinzō Abe that Japan is the most important political and economic partner of Lithuania in Asia. The two countries share common values and positions on global matters and have mutual interest to develop bilateral cooperation.

On 9 October, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius met with representatives of the Armenian authorities and non-governmental organizations at the Ministerial Conference of the International Organisation of La Francophonie in Yerevan. Meetings with the Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, the Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia Ara Babloyan and the Foreign Minister of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan focused on recent developments in Armenia, the country's cooperation with the European Union, the situation in the South Caucasus, and other relevant issues.

With a view to improving the investment environment and speeding up the introduction of innovation in public transport, as well as in response to the encouragement by the European Commission to effectively address transport congestion and ecological problems and enhance the living conditions for people in Lithuanian cities by using environmentally-friendly transport, the Seimas adopted the law on the development of the metropolitan railway system. The law (draft No XIIP-2375(3)) was adopted by 62 votes in favour, with 6 votes against and 31 abstentions.

MEPs will call for an investigation into the misuse of data by Facebook, vote on measures to reduce plastic waste and announce the shortlist for the 2018 Sakharov Prize.

Cleaner cars, more European films on streaming services and concerns about the state of rule of law were among the highlight of this week’s plenary session.

The Atlantic Council-hosted Global Forum on Strategic Communications and Digital Disinformation was held on October 2-4 in Washington.

The Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis met with the Japan Ambassador in Lithuania ShiroYamasaki to discuss the prospects for future bilateral cooperation. Next week the delegation headed by the Prime Minister will pay a visit to Japan.

The Seimas adopted amendments to the Referendum Law (draft No XIIIP-2477(2)), thereby extending the period between the day of passing the Seimas Resolution on the date of calling a referendum and the day of conducting the referendum.

MEPs vote on rules to promote European content on streaming platforms as well as on plans to set targets for cleaner cars during the next plenary session in Strasbourg.

Budget MEPs increased Erasmus+ funds and restored budgets for infrastructure investments, as well as Horizon 2020, the EU research programme.