The Seimas adopted amendments to the Law on the Legal Status of Aliens (draft No XIIIP-443(2) to adjust the regulation of entry of foreign specialists to Lithuania. The Law establishes the aliens’ entry scheme that complies with the provisions of Directive 2014/66/EU relating to an intra-corporate transfer, i.e. when an undertaking established in a foreign state temporarily posts an alien, for occupational or training purposes, to its agency, branch or undertaking belonging to the same group of undertakings, which are established in the Republic of Lithuania, and when an intra-corporate transferee moves among undertakings that belong to the same undertaking or group of undertakings established in the Republic of Lithuania and other EU Member States.

From fighting antisemitism to improving transport and protecting vulnerable elderly people, read our overview of what's happening in Parliament this week.

Feeding into the discussion on the future direction of the EU at 27, the Commission today held an orientation debate on the future of European defence.

On 25 May, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius met with Japan’s Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Motome Takisawa.

Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis has met with Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Energy Union Maroš Šefčovič.

On 19 May 2017, Viktoras Pranckietis, Speaker of the Seimas, met with General Raymond A. Thomas III, Commander of United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). Participants of the meeting discussed topical matters pertaining to security and defence, strategic partnership between the American and Lithuanian special operations forces, and the US assistance for Lithuania in building and developing defence capabilities.

On May 19 Minister of National Defence Raimundas Karoblis discussed topics of bilateral interest with Minister of Defence of Ukraine Stepan Poltorak conducting a two-day visit in Lithuania.

On 18 May 2017, Viktoras Pranckietis, Speaker of the Seimas, met with Col. Gen. Stepan Poltorak, Minister of Defence of Ukraine, and discussed the situation in Ukraine.

“It is impossible to counter hybrid threats without having identified their source,” Minister of National Defence Raimundas Karoblis stated at the European Union Defence Ministers meeting in Brussels (Belgium) today. The Ministers addressed the progress achieved on the implementation of the EU Global Strategy, EU initiatives in security and defence, and enhancement of the cooperation with NATO.

On 17 May, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius congratulated Jean-Yves Le Drian on his new appointment as the French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs.