The European Commission has found Luxembourg's €300 million scheme to support companies affected by the coronavirus outbreak to be in line with EU State aid rules. The scheme was approved under the State aid Temporary Framework to support the economy in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak adopted by the Commission on 19 March 2020.

On March 22 six Lithuanian soldiers were deployed home from the U.S.-led Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF–OIR). They returned on a direct flight of a Danish Armed Forces aircraft from Denmark to Vilnius, underwent termovisor temperature examination and were taken to the locations where they would carry out self-isolation by a bus that had been prepared for them. Following the procedure applied to every Lithuanian soldier returning from abroad, the troops will stay on self-isolation for 14 days.

The European Commission has found four Portuguese guarantee schemes for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and midcaps affected by the Coronavirus outbreak to be in line with EU State aid rules. The schemes, with a total budget of €3 billion, were approved under the State aid Temporary Framework to support the economy in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak adopted by the Commission on 19 March 2020. The Commission approved the four Portuguese schemes two days after the entry into force of the Framework.

EP President and political group leaders decided to hold an extraordinary plenary session next Thursday, 26 March to allow for implementation of special measures.

The European Commission has published a draft legal agreement for the future EU-UK partnership. It translates into a legal text the negotiating directives approved by Member States in the General Affairs Council on 25 February 2020, in line with the Political Declaration agreed between the EU and the UK in October 2019.

Today, the European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy have put forward a proposal for the long-term policy objectives of the Eastern Partnership beyond 2020. These aim at increasing trade, strengthening connectivity and deepening economic integration with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, strengthening democratic institutions, the rule of law, environmental and climate resilience, supporting the digital transformation, and promoting fair and inclusive societies.

Concerns over fundamental rights and action in Syria have led to a rethink of EU-Turkey relations. What is the status of the cooperation?

On 10 March, on the eve of the 30th anniversary of the Restoration of the Independence of Lithuania, Vilnius held the Bucharest Nine (B9) meeting of the foreign ministers of Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Hungary. Delegates from the United States of America and NATO attended the meeting as guests. Gitanas Nausėda, President of the Republic of Lithuania, greeted the participants in the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania.

COVID-19 is a severe public health emergency for our citizens, societies and economies with infections in all Member States. It is also a major economic shock to the EU. The Commission therefore presents today an immediate response to mitigate the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 outbreak, centred on a European coordinated response.

Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis has extended greetings to newly appointed Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal, wishing all the best in the new capacity.