Today, the European Commission adopted the New EU Forest Strategy for 2030, a flagship initiative of the European Green Deal that builds on the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. The strategy contributes to the package of measures proposed to achieve greenhouse gas emission reductions of at least 55% by 2030 and climate neutrality in 2050 in the EU. It also helps the EU deliver on its commitment to enhance carbon removals by natural sinks as per the Climate Law. By addressing the social, economic and environmental aspects all together, the Forest Strategy aims at ensuring the multifunctionality of EU forests and highlights the pivotal role played by foresters.

The new EU Ethics Body would be able to initiate investigations on possible conflicts of interest or “revolving door” cases for Commissioners, MEPs and staff.

The Commission has announced renewed support for those most in need in Iran and Pakistan with €22 million in humanitarian aid. This package will assist those most affected by man-made crises, the COVID-19 pandemic, climate induced and other natural disasters in the region.

A memorial plaque to Stefanija Ladigienė (1901-1967) was unveiled on the house marked number 10 in Trakų Street. S. Ladigienė is a public and political figure, a publicist, a pedagogue, and a rescuer of Jews, who was awarded the title of Righteous Among the Nations after her death.

In order to make the internal safety and security processes more efficient, to modernize the available tools at Lithuania’s main air gateway, installation of a new video surveillance system will start already this July. The new surveillance system is scheduled to be installed by the summer of 2022.

On Thursday, Parliament adopted its position for negotiations with Council on extending the mandate of the European Medicines Agency and strengthening its role.

As the numbers of migrants illegally crossing Lithuanian border do not fall, the Lithuanian Armed Forces partnered with the Ministry of the Interior to immediately put up a concertina coil fence on the borderline on July 9.

Lithuania again lists all the countries of the world as affected as a result of fast-spreading the Delta variant of the COVID-19 (coronavirus infection).| From Monday, 5 July, a COVID-19 testing will be required from arrivals from the green area countries, and two tests will be required from arrivals from the orange (yellow) area countries: one prior to arrival, the other - when in Lithuania. Brazil, India and the Republic of South Africa, whence arrivals fall subject to the enhanced communicable disease control measures, are now attributed to the grey area as all the third countries.

What are the goals of the new EU Environment Action Plan to 2030 and what has to be done to achieve them?

“Lithuania and Latvia are taking a united stand – we have to hold to our political commitment and prevent unsafe Belarusian electricity from being traded in the Baltic States,” said Minister of Energy Dainius Kreivys after a meeting with Latvian Minister of Economics Jānis Vitenbergs today in Riga, during which the rules proposed by Lithuania for trade in electricity from third countries were discussed.