On Wednesday, the Government approved the Report on the Implementation of the 2014-2020 Operational Programme for European Union (EU) Investments for the first quarter of 2023 prepared by the Ministry of Finance. This report reviews the progress in EU funds investment and provides recommendations to ministries regarding investment risk management.

On Tuesday, President Gitanas Nausėda met with Czech President Petr Pavel in Bratislava. The Lithuanian and Czech leaders discussed the agenda of the upcoming NATO Summit in Vilnius, the security situation in the region and the response to Russia’s war in Ukraine, as well as bilateral relations.

The European Parliament released today its Spring 2023 Eurobarometer survey showing citizens’ strong support for democracy and a high awareness of the upcoming European elections.

In its latest resolution, Parliament raises serious concerns over developments in Hungary, in light of the upcoming Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU.

Parliament calls for a coordinated strategy to increase the EU’s resilience to foreign interference and information manipulation and protect the 2024 European elections.

“Both Poland and Lithuania view Russia as a long-term threat to the security of the West and democratic values, as well as the stability of the international system based on mutual trust,” said Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anušauskas after meeting with Polish counterpart Mariusz Błaszczak in Poland earlier today. Ministers discussed the security situation in the region, national aspirations of both countries, preparations for the NATO Summit in in Vilnius in July, and signed a Joint Communique on further guidelines of the two countries’ defence cooperation. Ministers agreed to intensify bilateral exercises, including border-crossing, and to continue the cooperation in weaponry acquisition with a procurement of additional missiles for the GROM air defence system for the worth of over EUR 20 million.

President Gitanas Nausėda met with Jan Raczynsky, Chair of the Board of the international human rights organization Memorial and an active supporter of cooperation between the Memorial and the Lithuanian Genocide and Resistance Research Center.

May 23, Vice Minister of National Defence Žilvinas Tomkus attended a EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting on defence in Brussels. The meeting addressed possibilities to accelerate the military support to Ukraine and ensure manufacturing and supply of the ammunition required.

Following yesterday’s confirmation by EU Ambassadors at the Council on setting 6 to 9 June 2024 as the dates for the next European Parliament elections, EP President Roberta Metsola said:

President Gitanas Nausėda is currently in Reykjavik for the Fourth Council of Europe Summit. Tuesday evening, he took part in the roundtable “Supporting Ukraine – Solidarity and Accountability”.