The Seimas adopted a resolution on strengthening parliamentary diplomacy. The total of 76 Members voted in favour, with none against and 3 abstentions.

The Seimas adopted amendments to the Labour Code and accompanying legislation, thus postponing for half a year the entry into force of some of the laws adopted under the social model package, including the new Labour Code. The amendments mean that the laws under the social model package will enter into force on 1 July 2017. A total of 78 Members of the Seimas voted in favour of the proposal on the postponement, with 14 against and 30 abstentions.

On 19 December 2016, Linas Linkevičius, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, appointed Neris Germanas, Darius Skusevičius and Albinas Zananavičius as new vice-ministers.

President Dalia Grybauskaitė met with the European Union’s Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier.

Members of the Committee on European Affairs of the Seimas met with the Members of the European Parliament elected in Lithuania. The meeting discussed the most relevant issues on the EU agenda and plans for further cooperation between the Committee on European Affairs and Members of the European Parliament from Lithuania. The meeting was also attended by Linas Linkevičius, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite on Monday vetoed amendments to the Civil Code on insulting public figures.

Islamic State survivors and Iraqi Yazidi activists Nadia Murad and Lamiya Aji Bashar, received Parliament’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought at the December plenary which was also the last one to be fully presided over by Martin Schulz. MEPs adopted a report on fundamental rights in the EU and updated Parliament's internal rules to improve procedures and transparency. Read about these and other subjects in our article.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius had a telephone conversation with Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn, to whom the President-elect Donald Trump had offered the post of the national security adviser. Lithuania’s Foreign Minister stressed the country’s willingness to continue to closely cooperate in addressing regional and global threats, stressed the importance of the transatlantic relationship and the need to further strengthen the U.S. leadership in Europe.

President Dalia Grybauskaitė attended the European Council meeting which focused on the standstill in the process of ratification of the EU-Ukraine association agreement, the situation in Syria, the implementation of the Minsk agreements, new measures to strengthen EU security and defense, and migration.

President Dalia Grybauskaitė, who is attending the European Council meeting in Brussels, had a bilateral meeting with British Prime Minister Theresa May.