With 101 votes in favour to none against and 3 abstentions, the Seimas adopted a Resolution on the United Kingdom’s Withdrawal from the European Union. The Resolution underlines that the unity of Member States of the European Union (EU) in the negotiations with the United Kingdom (UK) provides the only adequate and necessary guarantee for ensuring the interests of the EU and its citizens and the indivisibility of the Union. In parallel, the Resolution takes note of the importance of the process of constructive negotiations and smooth withdrawal of the UK from the EU, which constitutes the basis for further development of relations.

Viktoras Pranckietis, Speaker of the Seimas, met with Borut Pahor, President of the Republic of Slovenia. They discussed bilateral relations between Lithuania and Slovenia, situation in the European Union, Ukraine and the Balkans. The focus was on hostile propaganda, its prevention, and fight against hybrid threats.

On 9 June, Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis has met with the Latvian and Estonian colleagues in Klaipėda. On their visit to the liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal, the Baltic Prime Ministers have discussed the possibilities for the development of a common gas infrastructure with a view to increasing energy independence and reducing prices for the population.

Having regard to the aggressive Russian foreign policy, which aims at disrupting the European security architecture and is responsible for the creeping occupation of Georgia, the continuing aggression in Ukraine, which has already claimed over 10,000 lives, the information warfare being waged against democracies, and the interference with electoral processes in sovereign states in the Euro-Atlantic area, which poses an increasing threat, the Seimas urged the Western world at this time of particular threats to not only maintain unity, but also focus on supporting and enhancing the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Linas Linkevičius, attended the Ministerial Council Meeting of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in Paris on 6–8 June 2017 (Making Globalisation Work: Better Lives for All) where ministers from member countries and candidate countries discussed the impact of globalisation on improving well-being.

Dalia Grybauskaitė, President of the Republic of Lithuania, has delivered the eighth State of the Nation Address at the Seimas sitting, covering the situation in Lithuania as well as domestic and foreign policy.

The Seimas adopted amendments to the new Labour Code and the accompanying legislation due to come into force on 1 July 2017 (draft No XIIIP-587(3). The amendments were developed in accordance with the proposals approved by consensus at the Tripartite Council. The new provisions were passed by 84 votes in favour, 10 against and 29 abstentions. The Seimas amended 45 articles in the new Labour Code.

Faced with an unpredictable world, the EU is keen to boost defence in Europe. Discover how Parliament is helping to deliver on security.

Parliamentary committees will this week discuss new rules for tackling legal highs, discuss how to improve the situation for refugees in Italy and look into companies being taxed in two different EU countries, while the development and environment committees will discuss sustainable development goals with UN representatives.

On 2nd June the Ministers of Defence of the Baltic States discussed security and defence and agreed on concrete measures to enhance collective defence at a meeting in Daugavpils, Latvia. “We appreciate NATO input into the security in the region, and we are completely confident about this partnership, still, we have to put in every effort of our own, security, defence, political or financial, to increase our contribution to collective defence . I am certain that together the Baltic states can contribute to collective defence significantly,” Minister of National Defence R.Karoblis says while in Daugavpils. According to him, when faced with new challenges, unity of the Baltic stance on collective defence is vital as never before. “Only if we speak as one can we become stronger and be supported by allies,” the Minister said.