On 10 October 2017, Viktoras Pranckietis, Speaker of the Seimas, had a Brussels-based meeting with Antonio Tajani, President of the European Parliament. They discussed the future of the EU, cooperation with the Eastern Partnership countries, and the most important aspects of energy, economy and security policy.

The pro-active behaviour of the Seimas Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly received a wide acclaim during the past session. As many as three members of the delegation were elected to significant post within the Assembly. Rasa Juknevičienė, Head of the Seimas Delegation to the NATO PA, was elected Vice-President of the Assembly for a second term of office. She was also elected to the position of Vice-Chairperson of the Sub-Committee on NATO Partnerships of the NATO PA Political Committee. Juozas OLEKAS, Deputy Head of the Seimas Delegation, was elected Chairperson of the Sub-Committee on Future Security and Defence Capabilities of the NATO PA Defence and Security Committee. Aušrinė Armonaitė, Member of the Seimas Delegation to the NATO PA, became Rapporteur for the Sub-Committee on Transition and Development of the NATO PA Economics and Security Committee.

The Seimas ratified the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Estonia, the Government of the Republic of Latvia and the Government of the Republic of Lithuania on the Development of the Rail Baltic/Rail Baltica Railway Connection, which was signed in Tallinn on 31 January 2017. The Law on Ratification of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Estonia, the Government of the Republic of Latvia and the Government of the Republic of Lithuania on the Development of the Rail Baltic/Rail Baltica Railway Connection (draft No XIIIP-1002(2)) was adopted by 96 votes in favour, none against and one abstention.

MEPs will this week deal with refugees’ resettlement, food quality and the risks of glyphosate, as well as as announce this year's Sakharov Prize finalists.

Lithuania's government has given a cautious opinion about the pledges made by Belarus to provide the European Commission (EC) with results of stress tests at the Astravyets nuclear power plant (NPP), saying that many security questions remain unanswered.

On October 2 Minister of National Defence Raimundas Karoblis met with the new Ambassador of Poland to Lithuania HE Urszula Doroszewska and Defence Attaché of Poland Colonel Miroslaw Wojcik to address further bilateral defence cooperation. The Ambassador underscored that security was among the priorities of her appointment to Lithuania. Both, the Ambassador and the minister agreed that close relations and cooperation between neighbours was key given the security situation in the region therefore regional security would continue being strengthened through joint efforts. The minister thanked the Ambassador for Poland’s participation the NATO Air Policing Mission in Lithuania: Polish contingent carried out the mission in June-August this year. In her turn, the Ambassador thanked for the high-quality Host Nation Support Lithuania had provided.

Lack of progress in Brexit talks, Catalonia question, endocrine disruptors and better protection of air passengers’ and workers’ rights: check out our plenary overview.

Viktoras Pranckietis, Speaker of the Seimas, met with the delegation of the National Assembly of Kuwait, led by Shuaib Shabab Al-Muwaizri, Chairman of the Kuwait-Lithuania Parliamentary Friendship Group. The cooperation between Lithuania and Kuwait and the security situation in Europe and the Middle East were discussed in the meeting.

On 1–2 October 2017, the chairs of the EU affairs committees of the Lithuanian, Latvian, Estonian and Polish parliaments held a meeting in Klaipėda where they unanimously agreed that energy independence and security remained a top priority for the Baltic States and Poland. The parliamentary representatives had the opportunity to visit the FSRU-type LNG terminal Independence, and learn in detail about the potential of the terminal. Tadas Matulionis, Director of the LNG Department, informed the participants about the construction and activities of the LNG terminal, which is among the key facilities ensuring energy security of the country. He also told the participants about the infrastructure and technical characteristics of the terminal and answered questions relating to the Lithuanian natural gas market, the capacity of the terminal, and the initiative to create a regional market for gas. Subsequently, the parliamentarians visited the Klaipėda State Seaport Authority and heard the presentation by Adomas Alekna, Harbour Master, on the activities and development possibilities of the port.

With 100 parliamentarians voting in favour, no votes against and one abstention, the Seimas adopted a new version of the Law on Fundamentals of Protection of the Rights of the Child and the accompanying legislation to improve the system for protection and implementation of the rights of the child, focussing on the child’s safety.