The EU and Vietnam have reached an agreement in principle for a free trade agreement (FTA), after two and a half years of intense negotiations. Following a telephone conversation this morning between EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström and Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang, all issues of substance have been agreed, and both sides have reached a mutually beneficial and balanced package.

On 31 July in Ohrid, Ambassador of Lithuania Rasa Kairienė presented her letters of credence to President of Macedonia Gjorge Ivanov. After the ceremony, the officials discussed prospects for the development of bilateral relations and multilateral cooperation.

The European Commission is giving €6 million in humanitarian funding to meet the most urgent needs of the people who have been severely affected by the conflict in Libya. This includes migrants, refugees and asylum seekers.

The EU adopted the first part of its annual assistance package in favour of Tunisia for a total amount of €116.8 million. It aims to strengthen the security sector and to support socio-economic and regional development.

The recent decisions of the Israeli authorities to further advance settlement expansion in the West Bank and East Jerusalem call into question the Israeli government's stated commitment to a negotiated two-state solution in the Middle East Peace Process.

The EU congratulates Valeriu Strelet upon his appointment as Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova. The EU looks forward to intensive cooperation with him and his government.

The European Commission is releasing €4.5 million in humanitarian assistance to help the increasing number of refugees from Burundi that have fled to neighbouring countries. More than 175 000 people, the majority of them women and children, are estimated to have already left the country.

Countries such as Italy and Greece dealing with an influx of asylum seekers should receive more support from other member states, MEPs said on a delegation visit to the Italian island of Sicily from 22 to 24 July. "Italy spends over €1 billion every year just to take care of those who make it across the Mediterranean. Italy's borders are the EU's borders and a better management of the migratory flows is our common responsibility," said French ALDE member Jean Arthuis, co-chair of the delegation.

On 28 July 2015, the European Union and the Republic of Belarus held a dialogue on human rights in Brussels, Belgium. The EU delegation was led by Mr Silvio Gonzato, Director for Human Rights and Democracy in the European External Action Service. The Belarusian delegation was led by Mr Yuri Ambrazevich, Director-General for Multilateral Diplomacy in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

President Dalia Grybauskaitė extended condolences on behalf of the Lithuanian people and personally to President Shri Pranab Mukherjee of India on the passing of former president Abdul Kalam.