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.

Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis has met with Günther Oettinger, Member of the European Commission responsible for budget and human resources.

Parliament President Antonio Tajani is in Tunisia for a two-day visit to discuss common challenges such as migration, economic growth and the fight against terrorism.

On 27 October in Vilnius, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius received Peter Tan Hai Chuan, Deputy Secretary/Southeast Asia & ASEAN in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who is visiting Lithuania.

President Dalia Grybauskaitė has left for an official visit to the United Arab Emirates. The aim of the visit is to strengthen economic cooperation, open access to new markets and further develop Lithuanian trade across the world. The President will attend a business forum, meet with Emirati leaders, sign agreements on cooperation, and conclude negotiations on the export of Lithuanian foods. The visit has been arranged at the invitation of the United Arab Emirates.

On October 26 a contract on procuring NASAMS (National Advanced Surface-to-Air System) medium range air defence systems for the use in the Lithuanian armed Forces was signed at the Ministry of National Defence.