Concerns over fundamental rights are leading to a rethink of EU-Turkey relations. What is the status of the cooperation? What are MEPs proposing?

President Dalia Grybauskaitė met with President Moon Jae-In of the Republic of Korea. The two Presidents discussed strengthening bilateral relations in the areas of economy, business and innovation as well as the international security situation and cooperation between South Korea and NATO.

Debates on new EU Western Balkans strategy, Turkey’s attacks on Kurds and dissent, Zimbabwe, Venezuela, and the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, start 16.00.

The Council has added 3 persons involved in serious human rights violations to the list of those submitted to a travel ban and an asset freeze in view of the situation in South Sudan. The Council adopted this decision in view of the ever deteriorating humanitarian and security situation in South Sudan, and considering the lack of commitment by some actors to the ongoing peace process.

Lithuania joined the group of Proliferation Security Initiative endorsing states in support of the Joint Statement From Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) Partners in Support of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 2375 and 2397 Enforcement.

On 2 February, the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Neris Germanas met with the new Ambassador of Iceland Árni Þór Sigurðsson to discuss the bilateral relationship between Lithuania and Iceland, and the importance of strengthening cooperation in the region.

Western Balkan countries could be next to join the EU. Discover what the EU is doing to facilitate their accession and how much progress has already been made.

The European Commission welcomes decision by the General Affairs Council (Article 50) to allow negotiations to begin on possible transitional arrangements following the United Kingdom's orderly withdrawal from the European Union.

President Dalia Grybauskaitė extended congratulations to President Miloš Zeman of the Czech Republic on re-election.

The European Union firmly condemns the decision by the Venezuelan authorities to declare the Ambassador of Spain in Caracas as persona non grata and expresses its full solidarity with Spain. The EU recalls that its decisions in the area of foreign policy are taken by unanimity. We call for this decision to be reversed as it affects relations between Venezuela and the European Union.