The Seimas adopted amendments (draft No XIIP-4726(2)) to the new Labour Code, which is to take effect from the beginning of the next year. The amendments are aimed at enhancing guarantees and social security for employees. The amendments were adopted by 83 votes in favour, with 1 vote against and 4 abstentions.

In the Nordic-Baltic (NB8) Prime Ministers’ meeting in Copenhagen on 2 November, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius, on behalf of Lithuania, called for continued support for the EU’s eastern neighbours.

At the 35th Session of the Baltic Assembly, held in Riga, Loreta Graužinienė, Speaker of the Seimas, addressed regional and energy security and invited the Baltic States to seek deeper integration through joint strategic infrastructure projects.

On 28 October 2016, the Minister Linas Linkevičius attended the annual conference in Riga, where he joined the discussions on the EU Eastern Partnership initiative. Mr. Linkevičius emphasised that the EU had as a matter of urgency to fulfil its own obligations towards the Eastern Partners and to provide a visa waiver to Georgia and Ukraine, and to complete the ratification procedure for the EU-Ukraine Associations Agreement.

Yazidi survivors and public advocates Nadia Murad and Lamiya Aji Bashar were announced as this year's Sakharov Prize laureates during this week's plenary session in Strasbourg. In addition MEPs called on the European Commission to regulate harmful trans fats in processed food. They also adopted Parliament's position on the EU's budget for next year, insisting on more funds to boost growth, tackle the migration crisis and help to find young people work. Read on for an overview.

On October 26 Minister of National Defence Juozas Olekas presented Lithuania’s preparedness to host a multinational German-led NATO battalion at the NATO Defence Ministers meeting in Brussels (Belgium).

On October 25 State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence of Moldova Aurel Fondos discussed defence policy topicalities of Lithuania and Moldova at a meeting with Vice Minister of National Defence Marijus Velička and Chancellor of the Ministry of National Defence Daiva Beliackienė.

At the Warsaw Security Forum on 26 October, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius discussed regional security challenges and NATO’s response to them.

President Dalia Grybauskaitė met with the newly elected Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid. This visit is one of the first foreign trips made by the President of Estonia since she assumed office on October 10.