Among the issues that Mr Stahl discussed with his Lithuanian counterpart, Mr Pranckietis, during his official visit were the key points of the bilateral relations between Switzerland and Lithuania, the Ukrainian crises and the developments of the EU. Relations between the two countries are excellent, thanks in particular to the assistance Switzerland provided to Lithuania during the first years following its independence.
As a member of the European Union (EU), Lithuania is a beneficiary of the Swiss contribution to reducing economic and social disparities in the enlarged EU. Between 2012 and 2017, Switzerland supported eight health, civil society and justice projects for a total of around CHF 71 million.
Viktoras Pranckietis, a member of the Lithuanian Peasant and Greens Union, was elected speaker of the Lithuanian parliament (Seimas), on 14 November 2016. The Lithuanian parliament is unicameral. Its 141 members are elected for a four-year term. The last parliamentary elections were held in October 2016.