On 2 September in Vilnius, the Lithuanian Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Neris Germanas met with the delegation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Palestinian National Authority led by the Ambassador Amal Jadou, Assistant Minister for European Affairs. The meeting focused on the Lithuanian-Palestinian bilateral cooperation and future prospects. The officials also discussed the Middle East peace process and the latest developments in the Middle East.

United Kingdom issued licences for the export of sodium fluoride and potassium fluoride to Syria last January before revoking them several months later. These chemicals are potentially able to be used to make nerve gas like sarin as well as being having industrial uses.

Although much has already been accomplished this year, MEPs still have many important legislative files to deal with before the end of the year. The Parliament will have to decide on matters that will affect the EU and Europeans for years to come, such as the long-term budget, banking supervision, data protection and better protection for temporary workers. Read on to find out more.

The EP's foreign affairs committee has called on the Muslim Brotherhood to return to the negotiation table and give up violence. The committee held a special meeting on 28 August, during which members debated how to get the troubled country back on the track to democracy. They also insisted on better protection for Christian Copts after 40 of their churches were burnt by Islamic fundamentalists.

Negotiations will still be needed to find a permanent solution for Syria despite any military action that might be taken, warned Elmar Brok, the chair of the EP's foreign affairs committee. On behalf of the committee, he also condemned the use of chemical weapons in the war-torn country and criticised China and Russia for not doing more to help find a peaceful solution.

"Recent developments in Egypt, and more particularly the violence of the last days, are extremely worrying. We are distressed at the loss of lives and we offer our sincere condolences to the families of the victims.

Egypt is a key partner of the European Union. We share interests in and responsibility for the maintenance of peace and stability in a strategic region. Further escalation must be prevented. It could have unpredictable consequences for Egypt and for its broader neighbourhood.