On 16 July, Lithuania informed the Permanent Council of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) of a sharp increase in the number of third country nationals illegally crossing the state border from Belarus into Lithuania over the past two months.

Exercise Schneller Degen organized by the Bundeswehr in Lithuania was opened in Pabradė last week: it for the first time actually deployed to Lithuania a division headquarters with the headquarters of its subordinate brigades to respond to hybrid and high-intensity threats. The exercise trains to redeploy headquarters and command elements into the NATO forward region within minimum time with an aim to enhance interoperability and cooperation of allies in the conduct of joint defensive operations. On June 21 Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anušauskas and Chief of Defence Lt Gen Valdemaras Rupšys attended Schneller Degen Distinguished Visitors Day.

The MFA informs about adoption by the Seimas of the amendments to the Law on the Legal Status of Aliens and the accompanying legislation (Draft No XIVP-719(2)), thereby providing for faster processing of asylum applications and restricting some of the rights of asylum seekers in cases where the state is not in a position to guarantee their rights due to a state of war or state of emergency, as well as emergency or an emergency event due to the mass influx of foreigners.

On Wednesday, new Defence Attaché of the United States Lieutenant Colonel Stephanie L. Baugh was accredited to Lithuania at a ceremony held at the Ministry of National Defence. She was welcomed to the position by Vice Minister of National Defence Margiris Abukevičius who expressed delight about the Lithuanian-U.S. security and defence cooperation growing stronger unceasingly.

The 13th Seimas has closed its second regular (spring) session. From 10 March to 30 June 2021, the Parliament held 52 sittings and adopted 318 legal acts, including 230 laws. Compared to the second session of the previous parliamentary term, the number of legal acts adopted in this session was smaller by a quarter.

As part of the visit to Greece, Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė has met with Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakas Mitsotakis and Speaker of the Parliament Constantin An. Tassoulu, and visited the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, the Hellenic Coast Guard Operational Centre and the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre. The Head of the State Border Guard Service and other officials accompanying the Prime Minister have also had other meetings with their counterparts in Athens.

At its extraordinary session, the Seimas adopted, under a special urgency procedure, amendments to the Law on the Legal Status of Aliens and the accompanying legislation (Draft No XIVP-719(2)), thereby providing for faster processing of asylum applications and restricting some of the rights of asylum seekers in cases where the state is not in a position to guarantee their rights due to a state of war or state of emergency, as well as emergency or an emergency event due to the mass influx of foreigners.

President Gitanas Nausėda had a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The leaders discussed migration crisis at the Lithuanian-Belarus border.

MEPs will reflect on the new European Commission proposal aiming to reduce greenhouse emissions and vote on new legislation tackling cross-border health threats.