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.

On October 2 Lieutenant Colonel Andrii Stepanov was accredited as the Army Attaché of Ukraine in Lithuania at a ceremony at the Ministry of National Defence.

On 30 September in Rīga, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius met with the First Vice-President of the European Commission. The meeting discussed the future of the EU, cooperation with the Eastern Partnership countries, and the main issues related to energy policy.

“I encourage Eastern Partnership countries to consistently and actively follow the European Union affairs, to make a part of the ongoing processes, make a contribution and benefit from the instruments developed, EU security and defence initiatives. I also urge Eastern Partnership countries seeking European integration to further grow and to stay faithful to European vision, to pursue their path with momentum,” Minister of National Defence Raimundas Karoblis said in an a welcome address to participants of the Conference on Eastern Partnership Contribution to European Security and Defence – Practical Implementation of the Global Strategy of the European Union during a formal dinner.

On 26 September in Vilnius, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius met with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Denmark Anders Samuelsen, who is paying a working visit to Lithuania.

President Dalia Grybauskaitė attends the informal meeting of the EU leaders to discuss matters important for the future of the EU. The heads of state or government focused on cooperation in defense, EU economic growth, strengthening the Eurozone, and addressing migration challenges.