The results of today’s single-use, throw-away plastic culture can be seen on sea shores and in oceans everywhere. Plastic waste is increasingly polluting the oceans and according to one estimation, by 2050 the oceans could contain more plastic than fish by weight.

At a meeting of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Standing Group on Long-Term Cooperation, representatives of the IEA Secretariat, IEA member countries and the Lithuanian Ministry of Energy discussed the report on Lithuania’s energy policy that is near completion. This was the last meeting with Lithuanian representatives on this report before its public presentation and the decision of the IEA Governing Board on whether to invite Lithuania to join the IEA.

The EU is working on new export rules for so-called dual-use goods to prevent them being misused in human rights violations.

Kaunas City Municipality is completing the implementation of Kaunas city strategic plan for 2016–2022 period. During this period, the city changed significantly. In order to ensure harmonious and balanced further development of Kaunas and to strengthen the competitiveness of Kaunas in Lithuania and Europe, a new plan for the next decade is being prepared.

On Thursday, in Kyiv, Lithuanian Minister of Transport and Communications Marius Skuodis and Ukrainian Minister of Infrastructure Vladyslav Kryklii signed a Memorandum of Intent regarding the cooperation in the areas of freight and passenger transport by railway and digital permits to perform international freight and passenger transport by roads. When implemented, these agreements will open up new business opportunities and promote innovation.

On Friday, Diana Nausėdienė opened the Centre for Baltic Studies at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. Leonid Huberskyi, Rector of Taras Shevchenko National University, and Igor Korlyov, Professor and Head of the Centre for Baltic Studies, thanked the First Lady for the visit. Juozas Augutis, Professor and Rector of Vytautas Magnus University, and Julius Lukošius, Chancellor of the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports attended the event remotely.

Tourism will need help to become cleaner, safer and more sustainable after the pandemic, according to MEPs. They will vote on a report on this on 25 March.

Reducing gender, social or cultural bias in AI technologies is key, said the Culture and Education Committee in a resolution adopted on Tuesday.

President Gitanas Nausėda congratulated President Michael D. Higgins of Ireland on Saint Patrick’s Day.

President Gitanas Nausėda extended congratulations to the Holy Father on the eighth anniversary of his election as Pope and wished him health and strength in inspiring respect to every human being, awakening love for the neighbor and spreading social fellowship –a solid foundation for the future. He also thanked the Roman Catholic Church for its contribution and the example of solidarity it gave in containing the pandemic around the world and in Lithuania.