Scheduled broadcasts
Photo by Olga Posaškova, Office of the Seimas
The Committee on Foreign Affairs considers positions of the Republic of Lithuania to be submitted at the meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council and the General Affairs Council and hears the reports after the meetings. Moreover, the Committee is regularly informed of the questions discussed at the meetings of NATO and EU defence ministers. The Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on European Affairs jointly consider and mandate the positions of Lithuania to be presented at the meetings of the European Council.
Furthermore, the Committee, within its remit, considers and presents conclusions on compliance of draft legal acts of the EU with the principle of subsidiarity.
The Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on European Affairs hold joint meetings to assess proposals submitted by specialised committees of the Seimas concerning the relevance of the European Commission’s annual work programme and legislative proposals to Lithuania.
Remit and working procedure of the Committee on Foreign Affairs
The Committee on Foreign Affairs is mainly responsible for considering and submitting conclusions concerning the ratification and denouncement of international treaties signed by the Republic of Lithuania and other legal acts related to foreign affairs, as well as for carrying out parliamentary scrutiny over matters within the remit of the Committee and exercising other powers established in the Statute of the Seimas.
During the session, regular Committee meetings are held twice a week – on Wednesdays and Fridays. Committee meetings are open when draft legal acts and some parliamentary scrutiny matters are considered; however, Committee meetings are generally closed. At closed meetings, the Committee considers positions of the Republic of Lithuania regarding legislative proposals of the EU, positions to be taken to the meetings of the Council of the European Union and parliamentary scrutiny over foreign policy.
Legislative and other activities of the Committee on Foreign Affairs
Apart from legislative activities, the Committee exercises parliamentary scrutiny over the foreign policy carried out by ministries and other public authorities, and develops international relations.
Regular meetings of Chairs of Foreign Affairs Committees from the Parliaments of Nordic and Baltic countries (NB8) are of particular importance. The meetings focus on international and European policy matters and practical aspects of enhancing inter-parliamentary cooperation.
Of equal significance are the traditional meetings of delegations of Foreign Affairs Committees from the Baltic States, which are also attended by parliamentary representatives from neighbouring countries.
