"I am happy about the close and active cooperation between the Baltic states. The current difficult geopolitical situation requires as close cooperation as ever to implement strategic decisions on security, economic prosperity and energy independence", said Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius today at the informal meeting of the prime ministers of the Baltic Council of Ministers in Riga.

On Friday, February 26, Prime Minister of Latvia Maris Kucinskis, Prime Minister of Lithuania Algirdas Butkevicius and Prime Minister of Estonia Taavi Roivas met in Riga for an informal working session of the Baltic Council of Ministers (BCM). During the meeting, the Heads of Government discussed security issues and cooperation in the fields of transport and energy.

On 23 February, the Embassy of Lithuania in Washington, D.C., held a convention of Honorary Consuls of Lithuania in the United States of America and Mexico, which was attended by 20 Honorary Consuls. The Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Mantvydas Bekešius, the Vice-Minister of Economy Rasa Noreikienė, and the Ambassador of Lithuania to the United States of America Rolandas Kriščiūnas welcomed the participants.

When people in the UK vote on 23 June on their country's EU membership, it will have consequences for the whole of Europe. MEPs debated on Wednesday 24 February the possible consequences of the referendum. Most MEPs said the country would be better off in the EU, while others insisted it would benefit from leaving.

Gediminas Kirkilas, Deputy Speaker of the Seimas and Chair of the Committee on European Affairs, proposes that a trilateral format of cooperation between the European Commission, Lithuania and Belarus is established to contribute to the safety and transparency of the nuclear power plant that is being built close to the Lithuanian border in Astravyets, Belarus.

MEPs debate the UK referendum on the country's EU membership on Wednesday during this month's Brussels plenary. In addition there is a public hearing on how to test car emissions as well as a discussion on gun controls. Meanwhile on Tuesday MEPs meet with Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and the EU's foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini.

President Dalia Grybauskaitė attended an EU summit where EU leaders reached an agreement on the United Kingdom's proposed reforms of the European Union. It is expected that, ahead of Britain's referendum on its membership of the EU, the agreement on reforms will contribute to the UK's decision to stay in the Community.

On 15 February in Brussels, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius and the First Vice-President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans discussed issues, which were relevant to Lithuania and related to energy, relations with Russia, as well as the EU's Eastern neighbours.

"After a successful implementation of strategic energy projects, such as the liquefied natural gas terminal (LNG) in Klaipėda, two electricity interconnections connecting Lithuania to Poland and Lithuania to Sweden, the country is now dealing with a particularly important issue of synchronization with the power network of the Continental Europe. It is precisely this topic that has drawn our greatest attention," said Lithuania's Foreign Minister after the meeting.

"I once again informed the First Vice-President of the European Commission about Lithuania's concerns over the Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant, which is being constructed in Ostrovets, Belarus. Lithuania has received no answers from Belarus to its questions about relevant environmental requirements, the country has no intention to carry out the so-called 'stress tests', even though it promised to. I drew the attention of Timmermans to the fact that nuclear safety issues must be invariably raised also in the relevant international authorities," said Linkevičius.

Lithuania's Foreign Minister assured that the Nord Stream 2 project was not only not feasible economically, but would also have a negative impact on Europe's energy security: "If we have agreed to create a European Energy Union, we must abide by our agreements and strive for the fulfilment of energy projects in line with the objectives of the European Energy Union.

www.urm.lt

On February 18-19, Minister of National Defence Juozas Olekas and Minister of Defence of Sweden Peter Hultqvist underscored the significance of defence reform for Ukraine at a meeting with Minister of Defence of Ukraine Army General Stepan Poltorak in Kiev.

President Dalia Grybauskaitė is attending an EU summit in Brussels which focuses on the implementation of the decisions already taken to deal with the migration crisis and future actions to stem the flow of migrants into the European Union.