Europe should ensure people and companies enjoy a secure supply of energy and this includes measures based on solidarity, said energy commissioner Günther Oettinger addressing the EP's energy committee on 24 September. In his last appearance as energy commissioner at the Parliament, Oettinger looked back at his tenure over the last five years and discussed future challenges regarding the EU's energy policy, including the continuing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Loreta Graužinienė, Speaker of the Seimas, sent congratulations to Radosław Sikorski, the new Marshal of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland. "Dear Mr Marshal, I am pleased to extend my sincere congratulations to you on your election as Marshal of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland. Your wide and internationally recognized experience of diplomatic work is a good basis for successful leadership of the Sejm and for the further development of inter-parliamentary relations. We have gained a long and rich experience of parliamentary cooperation. It is therefore important to continue this collaborative effort, which, I hope, will last under your leadership as well," said the Leader of the Seimas in her letter.

President Dalia Grybauskaitė was elected Chair of the Council of Women World Leaders at its meeting in New York. The Council, established in 1996, is a network of most influential women leaders in the world. The President became its member in 2009.

President Dalia Grybauskaitė met with former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in New York. The meeting focused on new challenges to European and global security, further development of transatlantic relations, and bilateral cooperation between Lithuania and the United States of America.

Asylum applications in the EU were up by some 100,000 in 2013 compared to the year before, while at least 600 people are believed to have died while trying to reach Europe via maritime routes. MEPs will discuss the latest developments on 24 September when the European Commission presents the latest annual report on immigration and asylum to the civil liberties committee. The report stressed that the EU needed to do more on immigration, asylum and the smuggling and trafficking of human beings.

President Dalia Grybauskaitė attended the 69th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly.

This year, world leaders discussed post-2015 Development Agenda and sought ways to respond to new challenges for global peace and security, dealt with ongoing conflicts, fought new forms of terrorism, reduced poverty and social exclusion, ensured human rights, and tackled the issues of global climate change.

In speech of Dalia Grybauskaitė at the general debate of the UN General Assembly, the President called the world leaders' attention to the common responsibility of all countries for global peace. The Lithuanian head of state told about the need of collective efforts for the quickest possible resolution of conflicts in order to ensure a secure and sustainable future of the world.

During her visit to New York, at the invitation of U.S. President Barack Obama President Grybauskaitė will attend a meeting at the heads of state level of the UN Security Council. The meeting will aim to pool efforts of all countries to combat international terrorism which is acquiring new forms and poses threats to global security. Lithuania was elected to the UN Security Council for a two-year term last year.

At the invitation of the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, the President together with other heads of state from 130 countries will take part in a summit on climate change issues. In her address at the meeting, the President will call attention of other world leaders to the need to reach a global agreement on climate change and will speak about strengthening energy security.

In New York the President will meet with former Finnish President Tarja Halonen and will participate in a meeting of the Council of Women World Leaders. Members of the Council will discuss women leadership, issues of ensuring gender equality in the world, and will elect a new president of the Council.

The Council of Women World Leaders, established in 1996, comprises over fifty members now. The Lithuanian President became a member of this Council in 2009.

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In a historic vote on Tuesday, Parliamentarians in Strasbourg and Kiev voted simultaneously to approve the EU–Ukraine association agreement. Closer to home, the EP proposed to increase financial aid for farmers affected by the Russian agricultural import ban and urged the EU to use all possible means to combat the Islamic State. MEPs warned that funds available for creating jobs for young people should be better used. Read on for the highlights of the September plenary session.

The European Parliament welcomes signs of hope in moves towards peace in Ukraine and in the newly-ratified EU-Ukraine association agreement, but worries about Russia's real intentions in the undeclared "hybrid war" there. In a resolution adopted on Thursday, it urges the EU to stand up to Russia and step up support for EU farmers hit by its trade ban.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has revealed that during one of his recent conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Russian leader had threatened to him that ''I could capture Riga, Vilnius, Tallinn, Warsaw and Bucharest within two days if I wanted to''.

Embassy of Lithuania in Pretoria - capital of the Republic of South Africa - could begin operations in November this year. The matter on the opening of new diplomatic post in Africa was considered by the Lithuanian Cabinet of Ministers at the meeting on 17th September. The government approved a draft resolution on the matter prepared by the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.