MEPs approved the EU's budget for 2021-2027 and presented the Sakharov Prize to opposition leaders in Belarus during the 14-18 December plenary.

Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė and Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg have discussed topical matters of transatlantic security and defence, as well as security agenda of Lithuania, the region, and the Alliance as a whole.

Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė and Prime Minister of Poland Mateusz Morawiecki have discussed bilateral cooperation between the two countries, coordination of the European Union and NATO policies, and the situation in Belarus. The Prime Minister of Poland has congratulated Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė and the Government under her leadership on the assumption of office.

Parliament gave its consent on Wednesday to the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) so that EU support can get to citizens as from the start of next year.

On December 11 a transfer of responsibilities between the outgoing and incoming Ministers of National Defence took place at a ceremony at the Ministry of National Defence. Raimundas Karoblis relinquished his duties of the Minister of National Defence after four years in charge and turned over the Ministry of National Defence flag and the scepter, regalis of power, to Arvydas Anušauskas.

Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė had a telephone conversation with Estonia’s Prime Minister Jüri Ratas to discuss the current pandemic situation, defence issues, and further cooperation between the Baltic States.

The Sakharov Prize,Covid-19, the quality of drinking water and the most recent EU summit are on the agenda of a busy plenary session on 14-17 December.

Having embarked on its new legislative term and with a view to continuing the tradition of agreement on the key priorities of foreign and European policy, the Seimas adopted a Resolution on the long-term guidelines and continuity of Lithuania’s foreign and European policy.