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.

The year 2022 in the transport and communications sector of Lithuania was marked by strategic infrastructure projects such as the launch of the new stages of Via Baltica and Rail Baltica, and the modernisation of the Port of Klaipėda and the airport infrastructure. Among the most important achievements, the Ministry of Transport and Communications also refers to the country’s initiation of the development of electromobility and other Green Deal projects, as well as the transformation of state enterprises into joint-stock companies ensuring a more flexible and progressive approach to management.

The donation of a generator, made by President Metsola on behalf of the European Parliament, as part of Generators of Hope campaign is to help Ukrainians get through the winter.

To fight climate change and biodiversity loss, the new law obliges companies to ensure that a series of products sold in the EU do not come from deforested land anywhere in the world.