Lithuania expresses its deep concern over persistent violence against journalists and calls upon the international community to step up effort to enforce specific measures on the protection of journalists. According to the round-up published on 29 December 2015 by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), an international organisation that protects journalists' rights, 110 journalists were killed this year. At least 67 of them were targeted because of their work or were killed while reporting.

As 2016 is rapidly approaching, it is a good occasion to look back at this year's most memorable moments, from the refugees crisis to the terrorist attacks. The European Parliament also dealt with issues such as tax rulings, Greece and debated the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) between the EU and the US. Watch our video to relive those moments.

The Seimas has established the legal basis for the engagement of the Lithuanian military units, troops and civilian personnel of the National Defence System in international operations from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2017.

For Central and Eastern Europe, Poland along with Germany represent security policy and economic leadership, and close co-operation with these countries will give us all added security and strength for Europe in general, admitted President Toomas Hendrik Ilves at his meeting with the Head of State of Poland, Andrzej Duda.

Lithuania's parliament (Seimas) on December 22nd approved Ukmerge judge Evaldas Pasilis as the country's new prosecutor general. Pasilis, 42, was proposed by President Dalia Grybauskaite.

Polish delegation of government's representatives headed by Mateusz Morawiecki, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Development, made an official visit to Vilnius on 14th December.

"It is easy to blame Europe or Schengen for security failures in our Member States, and wave the illusion that retreating behind national borders somehow immunises against - often home-grown - terrorists", said the EP President Schulz in his opening speech before the European Council of 17-18 December dedicated to pressing issues, such as migration, counter terrorism and the British referendum. "If we want to preserve our freedom of movement, then we must act fast and decisively."

On 18 December 2015, the European Commissioner, Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis, presented to the Committee on European Affairs the 2016 Annual Growth Survey, issued on 26 November 2015 opening a new annual cycle of the European Semester.

At a joint meeting held on 16 December 2015, the Seimas Committee on European Affairs and the Committee on Foreign Affairs considered the Commission Work Programme for 2016 and identified the Seimas priorities based on the proposals under the Programme.

Ensaf Haidar accepted the 2015 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought on Wednesday on behalf of her husband Raif Badawi, a Saudi human rights activist who remains in prison. A day earlier, Eurogroup President Jeroen Dijsselbloem attended plenary for the first time to discuss the euro, while the European Commission presented its plan for reinforcing the EU's external borders.