Parliament demands an EU budget for 2025 that focuses on improving people's lives, boosting competitiveness, and addressing current challenges.

Minister of National Defence Laurynas Kasčiūnas is attending the NATO Defence Ministerial in Brussels. The meeting is dedicated to the most pressing NATO security and defence issues, particularly the new NATO defence plans, air defence and assistance to Ukraine.

President Metsola opened the 21-24 October plenary session in Strasbourg with the following announcements.

President Gitanas Nausėda continues his participation in the European Council meeting in Brussels. On Thursday afternoon, European leaders focused on migration-related issues.

From 15 to17 October, Vilnius is hosting international training on countering disinformation, co-organized by Lithuania and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The event, which has begun today with a greeting address from Government Chancellor Giedrė Balčytytė, brings together disinformation and strategic communication experts from Lithuania and more than a dozen other countries, such as Ukraine, Moldova, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Singapore, Thailand, Costa Rica, the United States, South Africa, France, Albania, Romania, and the African Union.

Ministers are holding a series of meetings in parliamentary committees to present the priorities of the Hungarian Presidency of the Council.

Lithuania and the US are one step closer to the start of a significant cooperation in the field of defence capabilities with Northrop Grumman Corporation, a leading global aerospace and defence technology company. The Memorandum of Understanding signed on Monday outlined a shared vision to strengthen Lithuania's domestic defence industry capabilities, with a focus on the development, production and supply of medium-calibre ammunition.

We, the Presidents of the Republic of Lithuania and of the Republic of Poland:

On Friday, President Gitanas Nausėda met with Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs in Pasvalys. The Lithuanian and Latvian leaders discussed regional security issues, support for Ukraine, joint infrastructure projects, and strengthening bilateral ties.

The Ministry of National Defence further renders continued military assistance to Ukraine with yet another robust package of aid underway. Tactical equipment, anti-drones, vehicles and logistic equipment, and some of the older equipment from the Lithuanian Armed Forces arsenal will get to Ukraine in August.