Negotiations for the EU's 2018 budget are currently under way. Find out about Parliament's priorities in our interview with leading MEP Siegfried Mureșan.

In his introductory remarks addressing the annual Energy Forum in Vilnius on 7 November, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Linas Linkevičius, underlined that, “Lithuania aspires to full-fledged integration into the internal energy market of the EU and synchronisation of the electric systems of the Baltic States with the networks of continental Europe remains a fundamental strategic step to be taken”.

Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis has met with the management of Continental, a German automotive manufacturing company that is about to construct a new manufacturing plant in Lithuania. At the meeting, a memorandum of understanding was signed by the representatives of the company and the Ministry of Economy, hence ensuring the Government’s assistance to the investment plans of Continental.

During the next plenary session in Strasbourg session, MEPs will debate the latest tax dodging scandal and vote on new anti-dumping proposals.

On 2–4 November 2017, the Seimas Committee on National Security and Defence paid a visit to Ukraine. The delegation of the Committee led by Vytautas Bakas, Chair of the Committee, was made up of 7 out of a total of 10 members of the Committee, including Marius Janukonis, Lithuanian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Ukraine.

At his meeting with Günther Oettinger, Member of the European Commission responsible for the EU Budget and Human Resources, Viktoras Pranckietis, Speaker of the Seimas, discussed the EU’s multiannual financial framework, agricultural financing, decommissioning of the Ignalina nuclear power plant, safety of the Astravyets nuclear power plant, and other issues.

The European Commission announced how it will spend €30 billion of the EU research and innovation funding programme Horizon 2020 during 2018-2020, including €2.7 billion to kick-start a European Innovation Council.

On October 28 Commander U.S. Army Europe Lieutenant General Frederick B. Hodges visited Exercise Iron Wolf 2 at the General Silvestras Žukauskas Training Area and discussed the activities of the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group currently deployed in Lithuania, as well as multinational exercises planned to take place next year.

“I would like to sincerely thank the DFDS Seaways shipping company, officials and diplomats of Ukraine, Turkey, Denmark, Lithuania, Morocco and Algeria for their endless effort, dedication and skill that have led to the voluntary repatriation of all 12 illegal immigrants on board the Kaunas Seaways ferry sailing under the flag of Lithuania in the Black Sea,” said the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius. The remainder of the immigrants abandoned the ship on 2 November and returned to their countries of origin through Odessa and Turkish airports.