The Lithuanian and Polish prime ministers had a telephone conversation on Friday to discuss bilateral relations and cooperation in the European Union.

There is no evidence of poorer quality of food products supplied to countries in Central and Eastern Europe, says Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis, European commissioner from Lithuania in charge of health and food safety.

In 2018 the total of over 420 Lithuanian soldiers with vehicles and weaponry will continue the standby in multinational rapid response forces –NATO Response Force (NRF), NATO Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) and the generated UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF).

On 4 January, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius received the outgoing Ambassador of China to Lithuania Wei Ruixing. Lithuania’s Foreign Minister thanked the Chinese Ambassador for his efforts to build and strengthen the relationship between the two countries during his tenure in Lithuania.

“We highly appreciate the lasting cooperation between Lithuania and Croatia. UNPROFOR in Croatia was Lithuania’s first international military deployment after the restoration of independence. For four years Lithuania soldiers had been serving together with Croatian troops in the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Ghor province, Afghanistan. Croatia understands the challenges and threats faced by our region, and it is illustrated perfectly by Croatia’s decision to join the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group in Lithuania,” R. Karoblis underscored Lithuania’s appreciation of Croatia’s contribution to enhanced deterrence in the region at a meeting with Croatian Minister of Defence and Vice Prime Minister of Croatia Damir Krstičević on a visit in Lithuania.

This year, Lithuania expects esteemed guests to mark the Centennial of the Restoration of the State. Invitations to attend celebrations of February 16 in Vilnius, extended by President Dalia Grybauskaitė, were accepted by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany, President Andrzej Duda of Poland, President Raimonds Vējonis of Latvia, President Kersti Kaljulaid of Estonia, President Guðni Thorlacius Jóhannesson of Iceland, President Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine, President Giorgi Margvelashvili of Georgia, President of the European Council Donald Tusk, and President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker.

On 21 December 2017, representatives of the Estonian Presidency and the European Parliament reached a provisional deal on the effort sharing regulation to ensure further emission reductions in sectors falling outside the scope of the EU emissions trading system (ETS) for the period 2021-2030. The provisional agreement requires endorsement by member states. EU ambassadors are expected to analyse the text in January.

“This project marks a qualitative step forward in modernising the armed forces, providing it with up-to-date equipment and weaponry, which brings it closer to NATO standards and contributes directly to the enhancement of our common security,” Minister of National Defence Raimundas Karoblis said on December 18 after viewing the first two training Vilkas IFVs delivered to the Lithuanian Armed Forces Vehicle and Equipment Deport in Kaunas.

Lithuanian Minister of National Defence Raimundas Karoblis met with Croatian Minister of Defence and Vice Prime Minister of Croatia Damir Krstičević and Chief of Defence of Croatia General Mirko Šundov who was on a visit to Lithuanina on 28-29 December. During the visit security situation in the Baltic region, bilateral co-operation were planned to discuss.

Estonia has completed its presidency of the Baltic Council of Ministers and passed it over to Lithuania. At the meeting of the Baltic Council of Ministers in Estonia, Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis pointed out Lithuania’s key priorities.