Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius has met with Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany Matthias Mülmenstädt, who ends his term in Lithuania. During the meeting, the Prime Minister thanked the Ambassador for his personal contribution in the development of good bilateral relations as well as for Germany's support and cooperation during the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The Prime Minister has stressed that Germany is an important partner to Lithuania, with whom Lithuania seeks to further actively develop bilateral relations and cooperation.

On 18 June in Vilnius, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan discussed possibilities for closer political dialogue, furthering economic and cultural ties, and cooperation within international organizations.

On Wednesday, the Government decided to allow foreigners residing in Lithuania to become members of political parties. Previously such provisions were absent from Lithuania's legislation.

The main task of the minister of justice and his ministry is efficient legal framework, underlined Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite during the meeting with Minister of Justice Juozas Bernatonis on Tuesday.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture in Lithuania Rytis Satkauskas addressed law enforcement authorities requesting to be submitted all information based on which doubts were publicly raised regarding transparency of his work. Moreover, the deputy minister has also handed in a letter of resignation to Minister of Agriculture Prof Vigilijus Jukna.

In order to incorporate Vilnius in the standard gauge railway track Rail Baltica project, efforts of all Baltic region countries and Governments are needed, says Lithuanian Minister of Transport and Communications Rimantas Sinkevicius.

President Barroso spoke on the phone with President Putin to discuss the current political-security situation in Ukraine. President Barroso recalled the EU positions, namely the need for a de-escalation and the importance of a cease fire. He also urged the disarmament of separatist groups, a halt to the flow of arms and illegal fighters into Ukraine and the repeal of the law approved by the Duma's Federation Council.

Parliament has approved amendments to the Law on Tobacco Control which prohibit smoking in apartment block balconies, terraces, galleries, by open windows, or outside closer than 5 metres to apartment blocks, as well as in children's playgrounds if non-smokers are exposed to tobacco smoke.

Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP) has delegated Minister of Health Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis as the party's candidate to the European Commissioner's position.

President Dalia Grybauskaitė extended congratulations on behalf of Lithuania to the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, on the occasion of national holiday - Russia Day.