Lithuania
Launch of the Lithuanian cultural season in France (March 11, 2024)

The Lithuanian cultural season in France will be held from September 12 to December 12, 2024. The Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda and Minister of Culture Simonas Kairys’ visit to Paris from Monday, March 11, to Tuesday, March 12, marks the start of this season, which will bring renewed momentum to Franco-Lithuanian cultural relations. Of note is President Nauseda and President Macron’s attendance at a concert held at the St.-Louis des Invalides Cathedral.

Jointly organized by the Institut Français and the Lithuanian Cultural Institute, the Lithuanian cultural season in France will give French audiences a taste of the diverse, accessible selection of the rich, exceptional world of Lithuanian culture, with its artists, thinkers, researchers, and entrepreneurs. This cultural season will also facilitate new, long-term cooperation between Lithuanian institutions and artists and their French partners.

Together, we will leverage these Franco-Lithuanian cultural ties to highlight the strength of our European family and the vitality of our societal exchanges.

Q&A

The French Association of Career Diplomats outlined a “recent decree canceling €10 billion in appropriations” to the Quai d’Orsay in Le Figaro. Can you elaborate on this (the date the decree was published in the Journal Officiel, specific budget cuts, and so on)?

Like other ministries, the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs is affected by the effort that the government has been asked to make in order to save €10 billion in 2024. Decree no. 2024-124, published on February 21, will cut appropriations to the State External Action program by €174 million, while funding for Official Development Assistance will be cut by €542 million.

With regard to the former, the cancellation of appropriations will not prevent the reforms initiated within the framework of the Foreign Service Review from being fully implemented. The creation of 150 new jobs, in particular, will not be affected. Additional resources will be allocated to communications, operations to bolster French influence, and consular operations. Investments in digital technology and security will continue to increase.