On 27 February in Ottawa, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius kicked off his overseas visit meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada François-Philippe Champagne and the Canadian Minister of National Defense Harjit Sajjan.

The renewed military offensive in Idlib by the Syrian regime and its backers, causing enormous human suffering, is unacceptable. The EU calls on all actors to cease hostilities immediately.

On 19 February, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius met with the outgoing Ambassador of Italy to Lithuania Francesco Fransoni.

On 20 February, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro Srđan Darmanović. The meeting focused on possibilities for strengthening bilateral cooperation, Montenegro's EU aspirations, the situation in the Western Balkans, as well as important issues of regional security and cooperation.

First Deputy Chancellor of the Government Deividas Matulionis has met with a delegation led by Special Advisor to the Prime Minister of Japan Isao Iijima to discuss prospects for the bilateral cooperation in the fields of economy, culture and elsewhere.

President Gitanas Nausėda has arrived for a working visit to Brussels where he will attend the European Council summit, held to negotiate the multiannual financial framework. Before the special meeting, President Gitanas Nausėda met with European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen to present Lithuania’s priorities for the EU’s next long-term budget 2021-2027. They also discussed the EU strategic agenda, the Commission’s work programme and its new Green Deal.

On Wednesday, the Budgetary Control Committee signed off on the Commission’s 2018 budget, but rules to fight fraud and conflict of interest must be strengthened.

On 17 February, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius attended the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels. The Council discussed views on Libya and how to enhance EU engagement in the country, as well as the EU’s relations with Africa and India. In addition, Foreign Ministers and the Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama had an exchange of views on prospects for the opening of accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia.

On 10 February Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevičius had a meeting with French Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves le Drian in Paris. They discussed the key issues of bilateral cooperation, security, the European Union and NATO, and the European Neighbourhood.

MEPs will debate the US’ recently presented Middle East plan, the new EU-Africa strategy and the current security situation in Syria, on Tuesday afternoon.