The future of Europe, the influence of Russian propaganda, new renewable energy targets: check out our overview of Parliament’s first plenary sesson of 2018.

The Seimas adopted amendments to the Law on the Provision of Information to the Public (draft No. XIIIP-1356(2)), thereby endorsing the proposal to establish the Information System on Public Information Producers and Disseminators. Additional data on public information producers (disseminators) and their activities will now become publicly available in the System, in order to ensure greater transparency of provision of information to the public and objectivity of public information. The new provisions were adopted by a vote of 84 in favour to none against, with 10 abstentions.

On January 17 Vice Minister of National Defence Vytautas Umbrasas met with Ambassador of Montenegro itoLithuania Ljiljana Tošković, he welcomed Montenegro to NATO, the two officials discussed bilateral defence cooperation and security situation in the east of Europe and the Balkans.

The Seimas adopted amendments to the Constitutional Law of the Republic of Lithuania on the Implementation of Paragraph 3 of Article 47 of the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania (draft No XIIIP-1117(2)), which stipulate that the criteria of European and transatlantic integration embarked on by Lithuania are met by those foreign subjects which, in addition to being set up in a member state of the European Union, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), NATO or state party to the European Economic Area Agreement, are not established in a member state of a political, military, economic or any other type of union or commonwealth of states functioning on the basis of the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

The Seimas adopted an updated version of the Law on Enterprises and Facilities of Strategic Importance to National Security and Other Enterprises of Importance to Ensuring National Security. The Law was adopted by 81 votes in favour, with no votes against and 6 abstentions.

Figure of the former President of the Republic of Poland, late Lech Kaczyński, will be commemorated on the initiative of the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania - Christian Families Alliance. Today, the factions of EAPL–CFA in the Vilnius region and in the city of Vilnius registered draft resolutions on giving the name of Lech Kaczyński to a wide and beautiful square near the Houwalt manor in Maišiagala and to the street-nook in the centre of Vilnius next to the Gedyminas Avenue.

President Tajani opened the session in Strasbourg, expressing concern over repeated human rights violations in Turkey and highlighting Wednesday’s debate on the future of Europe.

Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis hosted Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on his first visit to Lithuania. The counterparts discussed opportunities for cooperation through the continuous focus on the fields of economy, science, education and international security.

The Commission will give additional funding of €169 million to promote EU agricultural products throughout the world - €27 million more than in 2017.