Plans to set up an EU Border and Coast Guard are to be put to a vote in Parliament's civil liberties committee this week. MEPs also vote on proposals to introduce a standard European travel document for non-EU nationals and to expand the exchange of criminal records between member states. At a hearing in the human rights subcommittee members discuss the plight of minority groups caught up in Syria's civil war and in ISIS atrocities. Preparations also take place for next week's plenary session.

The Lithuanian central bank governor says that the eurozone's economic recovery is too slow and fragile and monetary accommodation alone is not sufficient to get the economic engine running at full throttle.

On May 27 Minister of National Defence Juozas Olekas met with Ambassador of Korea HE Ji-in Hong. Minister J.Olekas expressed appreciation of the 25 years of excellent diplomatic relations between Lithuania and Korea.

Consumers should be given more power in the energy market, say MEPs in a resolution on a "new energy deal for energy consumers", voted on Thursday. They recommend collective buying, household power generation, better price comparison tools for all and making it easier to switch energy providers and tariffs. In a non-binding text, intended as an input to Energy Union legislation to be tabled by the EU Commission, MEPs also call for EU funds for energy efficiency to focus on energy poverty.

On 26 May, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius and the German Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Frank-Walter Steinmeier met to discuss prospects for bilateral cooperation, measures to strengthen security in the region, preparation for the NATO Summit in Warsaw, the situation in Ukraine, relations with Russia, Eastern neighbours, energy security and other issues on the international agenda.

Minister of National Defence Juozas Olekas pointed out Belgium’s proactive contribution to our security at a meeting with Minister of Defence of the Kingdom of Belgium Steven Vandeput.

Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius who is on an official visit in the Czech Republic today has participated in a forum “Lithuanian transport solutions for Czech enterprises business”. During the event a cooperation agreement was signed between AB “Lietuvos Geležinkeliai” and the freight railway transport company “ČD Cargo”.

On Friday 20 May, Prime Minister met with the European Commissioner responsible for health and food safety, Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis, to discuss European Commission’s recommendations for Lithuania, and particularly focussing on the agricultural sector and the problems of nuclear safety in the region.

On May 24 Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius discussed the issue of Belarus nuclear power plant (NPP) in Ostrovets during the telephone conversation with Maroš Šefčovič, Vice-President of the European Commission for Energy Union.

Energy poverty and how to give consumers a better deal are debated during this week's plenary session in Brussels. In addition MEPs vote on a resolution on protecting Europeans' privacy when their data is being handled by American companies and discuss how to improve access to digital goods and services. In additions committees discuss genetically modified food as well as Europol reports on terrorism. On Saturday the European Parliament in Brussels holds an open day.