In support of the joint efforts of the international community to fight the COVID-19 and to support refugees as one of the most vulnerable groups of the society, Lithuania has allocated funds to humanitarian aid.

During a video call to President of Latvia Egils Levits and President of Estonia Kersti Kaljulaid, President Gitanas Nausėda discussed EU-wide and national measures to fight the COVID19 pandemic and effectiveness of those measures as well as the strategy to mitigate the consequences of the crisis.

On 2 April, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius took part in a meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers by secure videoconference for the first time in the Alliance’s history. The meeting discussed the Alliance’s response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, situation in Iraq and Afghanistan, NATO’s role in the Middle East and North Africa region. NATO Ministers also exchanged their views on Russia, arms control, and relations with partners.

The EU and its member states must help Greece manage its borders, according to Civil Liberties MEPs, who warn about the risk of COVID-19 spreading in refugee camps.

MEPs will discuss the situation at Greece’s external borders with the Greek government, the Commission, the Croatian Presidency, Frontex and the EU’s Fundamental Rights Agency.

President Gitanas Nausėda has offered condolences to Italian President Sergio Mattarella and all the people of Italy fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic. The virus in Italy claimed the largest number of lives in Europe, over 11,000 people died. Italy declared March 31 as the National Day of Mourning to pay tribute to the victims of coronavirus.

North Macedonia has become a new member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. On March 27 the country was officially called a full-fledged ally of the newly 30-member Alliance after depositing its entering documents at the U.S. Department of State in Washington.

The EU and 15 other members of the WTO on 27 March decided on an arrangement that will allow them to bring appeals and solve trade disputes among them despite the current paralysis of the WTO Appellate Body. Given its strong and unwavering support for a rules-based trading system, the EU has been a leading force in the process to establish this contingency measure in the WTO.

The European Commission and the High Representative set out the priorities and way ahead on Human rights and Democracy, adopting a Joint Communication and the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy for 2020-2024. Further, they put forward a joint proposal to the Council to act by qualified majority voting on issues falling under the Action Plan, reflecting the strategic importance of the Action Plan. It aims at fostering faster and more efficient decision-making on human rights and democracy.

This Thursday the Parliament is holding a special plenary session so that the first measures to help people and business deal with the impact of the corona outbreak can be approved.