The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania congratulates Georgia on the first round of the parliamentary elections, in which, according to international observers, basic standards for democratic elections were ensured.

International Trade Committee MEPs, farmers, businesses, public health and trade union representatives debated the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between the EU and Canada on Wednesday morning. CETA can only enter into force with the European Parliament’s approval.

On 11 October, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius met with Sweden’s new Ambassador to Lithuania Maria Christina Lundqvist to discuss bilateral relations and the strengthening of cooperation on issues that were important for our region.

Parliamentary committees vote this week on proposals to keep the gas supply secure, counteract propaganda from countries the EU, curb the spread of plant pests and fight against wildlife trafficking. The budget committee is also due to vote on the EU's budget for next year, while Parliament will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Lux Film Prize. Finally the three finalists for the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought will be revealed this week.

MEPs formally endorsed the United Nations global climate agreement agreed during last December’s COP21 Conference in Paris during this week's plenary session, clearing the way for its ratification and implementation. They also endorsed a ban on exporting EU products that could be used for torture and the death penalty and approved financial assistance for laid-off workers. In addition they supported the idea of free rail passes for 18-year-olds to help them discover Europe.

On 6 October, the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Neris Germanas met with the new Ambassador of Sweden to Lithuania Maria Christina Lundquist and discussed the bilateral relations between Lithuania and Sweden, and the strengthening of cooperation within the United Nations Security Council.

On 6 October in Vilnius, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius met with the new Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia Jürgen Ligi and noted that cooperation with Estonia in the implementation of joint energy and transport infrastructure projects was very important for Lithuania.

The European Parliament opposed the European Commission plans to authorise five GMO products, maize Bt11, 1507 and MON810 (seeds and products), and a glyphosate-resistant cotton, in a vote on Thursday. MEPs reiterated their call for a reform of the EU’s GMO authorisation procedure.

On 4 October in Brussels, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius and the Vice-President of the European Commission, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini discussed ways to strengthen Eastern Partnership, new initiatives in the field of the European Union’s Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), and the construction of the unsafe Astravets nuclear power plant (NPP) in Belarus.