The European Commission has found plans by Luxembourg and Malta to support power generation from renewable sources to be in line with EU state aid rules. The schemes will increase electricity produced from renewable sources, in line with EU energy objectives, without unduly distorting competition.

President Dalia Grybauskaitė attended a forum, dedicated to enhanced cooperation between the Adriatic, Baltic and Black Sea regions at the invitation of Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović in Dubrovnik.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania has allocated EUR 40,000 in humanitarian aid to Iraq, EUR 10,000 to Mali, and EUR 10,000 to Macedonia.

The Commission has found Malta's plans for setting up a development bank to be in line with EU state aid rules. The bank will carry out non-commercial activities to facilitate access to finance for SMEs and to support infrastructure investment, without unduly distorting competition.

President Dalia Grybauskaitė extended heartfelt condolences to President Sergio Mattarella of Italy over the earthquake that resulted in the loss of human lives and the devastation of many towns and villages.

The Conference of the Speakers of the NB8 Parliaments held in Riga discussed the relevant issues of regional cooperation and further deepening of political and economic integration. Special attention was given to new challenges to the Baltic region. The discussion also touched upon energy security and resilience against hybrid and cyber threats.

World Humanitarian Day marks the anniversary of the 2003 bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq, when 22 humanitarian workers lost their lives, including the UN Special Representative in Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello.

President Dalia Grybauskaitė extended congratulations, both personally and on behalf of the Lithuanian people, to President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan on the anniversary of Afghanistan’s Independence Day.

From Brexit to the migration crisis: 2016 has proved a very eventful year, but Parliament's work is far from finished. Until the end of the year MEPs will be working on a broad range of issues, from tackling the terrorism threat to improving the digital single market. Read on for an overview of the challenges MEPs will be dealing with the coming months.

The number of UK workers from eight eastern European countries that joined the EU in 2004 has passed one mln for the first time.