When speaking about the future of Europe at the 31st Economic Forum in Karpacz, Poland, Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, Speaker of the Seimas, said that much would now depend on our own actions, choices and decisions. She called for strategic patience to be maintained, as the shock of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is an opportunity for Europe to grow stronger in all its dimensions: security, energy, economy, information, Western solidarity and cohesion.

Parliament and five rotating Council Presidencies commit to work together to adopt the reform of the EU migration and asylum rules before the 2024 EU elections.

After the Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8) Foreign Ministers' meeting, which kicked off on 6 September in Kaunas, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Gabrielius Landsbergis stressed that the current challenges facing both the Nordic-Baltic neighbourhood and the entire world, required a focused response, which was possible only by maintaining unity, as well as by coordinating positions and actions at both regional and international levels.

Ministers are outlining the priorities of the Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU to parliamentary committees, in a series of meetings.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė and Prime Minister of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel have visited Kaunas, where they have discussed the relations between Lithuania and Luxembourg, which have grown closer thanks to the cooperation between the current two European Capitals of Culture - Kaunas and Esch-sur-Alzette.

MEPs will scrutinise the work of the European Commission on 14 September to ensure the EU addresses Europeans' key concerns. Follow the State of the EU debate live.

On Tuesday, President Gitanas Nausėda attended the Baltic Sea Energy Security Summit in Copenhagen, where together with the leaders of Denmark, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Finland, and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, issues related to Europe’s energy security and independence from Russia, as well as the Baltic Sea region’s green energy transformation were addressed. The meeting focused on the transition to renewable energy sources and the promotion of secure, sustainable energy in Europe.

MEPs are set to adopt new laws to improve the lives of Europeans in the autumn, including on energy security, gender equality and artificial intelligence.

Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė had an informal bilateral meeting with Latvian Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš in Rundale Palace in Latvia to discuss future cooperation and the security situation in the Baltic States. The Prime Ministers emphasised the need to continue the all-round Baltic support to war-ravaged Ukraine. So as to not only stop Russia’s aggression but also to ensure the security of the entire Europe. These goals can only be achieved through effective coordination between the EU, NATO and other allies.

On Wednesday, President Gitanas Nausėda presented credentials to the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Lithuania to Estonia, Raimonda Murmokaitė, and to the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Lithuania to Moldova, Tadas Valionis.