“Neakivaizdinis Vilnius” has prepared four gifts for the upcoming holidays and invites to open up to legendary experiences, wandering around the city and playing an orienteering game, trying a new thematic route along the path of legends, admiring Christmas trees in different neighbourhoods following the Christmas Tree Map, opening up a page of a new legend of the capital city on social networks every day and winning special prizes. All these experiences fall under the theme of fairy tales and myths “Fairy tale of Vilnius city, full of magic and so pretty…”.

On Saturday night, MEPs and EU governments agreed to reform the Emissions Trading System to further reduce industrial emissions and invest more in climate friendly technologies.

MEPs deplore that 90 years after the Holodomor, Russia is again committing horrific crimes in Ukraine.

Meeting with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III on December 15 Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anušauskas underscored the particularly significant importance the newly concluded contract on acquisition of High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) had for Lithuania’s national defence. According to Minister, the long-range rocket system is a new step towards a stronger Lithuanian military capability as it will significantly enhance the defensive power of the Lithuanian Armed Forces.

This year, Lithuania has risen one position up in the annual European Data Portal survey, which assesses open data policies and their practical implementation, ranking 13th among 35 countries. Lithuania surpassed such countries as the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Finland and Sweden.

Parliament’s 2022 Sakharov Prize was awarded to the brave people of Ukraine, in a ceremony on 14 December.

December 11 the first train departed on a combined international route from Vilnius to Warsaw and Krakow. For the convenience of passengers, the services operated jointly with Polish rail operator PKP Intercity will run daily from now on.

On 9 December, a time capsule was buried at kilometre 76 of the Kaunas-Marijampolė-Suwałki Highway A5, that is part of the Via Baltica E-road, to mark the commencement of reconstruction works on one section of the highway, from kilometre 72.50 to kilometre 79. This section is planned to be reconstructed into four lanes, and the country’s first green bridge (wildlife crossing), a tunnel cross passage, an intersection, connecting roads, and other road elements will be added. Construction work on this section is planned to be completed in autumn 2023. The contract is valued at approximately EUR 55.8 million.

Taking advantage of a snowy white winter, Vilnius invites the city’s guests and residents to a new ice rink set up in one of the edgiest urban spots—the world-famous Lukiškės Prison 2.0. Free morning skating sessions and friendly matches of Bavarian curling will entertain skaters all winter, while a highly-awaited Christmas gastro market around the rink will offer the city’s characteristic delicacies on December 8th-11th.

On Friday, Parliament and Council reached a provisional agreement to overhaul EU rules on batteries and take into account technological developments and future challenges.