MEPs vote this week on Parliament's position regarding December's climate change conference in Paris as well as on measures to tackle the refugee crisis during the plenary session on Wednesday. In addition the agriculture committee votes on a plan to improve the reliability of EU labels on organic food, while the three finalists of this year's Sakharov Prize will also be presented this week. Also EP President Martin Schulz will address the European Council on Thursday.

In a meeting, members of the Seimas, Marija Aušrinė Pavilionienė, Giedrė Purvaneckienė and Dalia Kuodytė, and the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Margo Wallström, discussed the legal situation of women in Lithuania, achievement of gender equality in the labour market and opportunities for international cooperation in addressing women's issues.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius met with European Commission Vice-President, Andrus Ansip, to discuss developments in the EU digital single market, promotion of innovations and job creation in the EU Member States.

French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel debated with MEPs the challenges facing Europe, from the refugee crisis to the situation in Syria, during October's first plenary session. MEPs also discussed the Volkswagen scandal with the European Commission, which is preparing new legislation to tighten vehicle testing. In addition the refugee crisis was discussed with European Council President Donald Tusk, following September's extraordinary EU summit.

Chairman of the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania Valdemar Tomaševski appeared on the list of the most influential politicians in Lithuania. Tomaševski put himself on strong position overtaking tens of political activists: members of the European Parliament, ministers, and members of the Seimas.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius has met with representatives of the Swedish business delegation, visiting Lithuania on the occasion of the state visit by the Swedish Royal Family – His Majesty King Carl Gustaf XVI and Queen Silvia. The visit agenda includes meetings with party leaders and business representatives, introductions to Lithuania's business and investment environment.

French President François Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will make a historic joint appearance in the European Parliament in Strasbourg today. They will speak on topical European issues and debate with political group leaders. It is the first joint address of French and German leaders since November 1989, when President François Mitterrand and Chancellor Helmut Kohl debated the end of the Cold War with MEPs. Follow our coverage live from 15.00 CET.

On October 5 Minister of National Defence Juozas Olekas discussed regional security and defence policy and underscored the importance of strengthening Lithuanian-Swedish cooperation through joint military exercises at a meeting with members of the Swedish Parliament at the Ministry of National Defence.

On 29 September in Vilnius, the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Andrius Krivas and the Chief of Staff of the Italian Army Lt.Gen Claudio Graziano, who is visiting Lithuania, discussed NATO's Readiness Action Plan, which was approved at NATO's Wales Summit in 2014, the implementation of the collective security measures and the next NATO Summit in Warsaw.

Loreta Graužinienė, Speaker of the Seimas, was quite optimistic during her visit to the Refugee Reception Centre in Rukla which is to accommodate refugees. The leader of the Seimas showed interest in the plans to integrate, at the initial stage, arriving people, whom Lithuania had undertaken to take in over the next two years, and to cooperate with institutions that are to promote and control further integration processes.