A delegation from the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe carries out a monitoring visit to Lithuania from 23 to 24 January 2018. Rapporteurs on local and regional democracy, Mr Artur TORRES PEREIRA (Portugal, EPP/CCE) and Mr Sigurdur Bjorn BLONDAL (Iceland, ILDG), examine the situation of local democracy in the light of the provisions of the European Charter of Local Self-Government, ratified by the country in 1999. High-level meetings are scheduled, in particular, with Mr Eimutis MISIŪNAS, Minister of the Interior, and Mr Vilius ŠAPOKA, Minister of Finance. The delegation also met with Mr Povilas URBŠYS, Chair of the Committee on State Administration and Local Authorities of the Seimas, Mr Arūnas DULKYS, Auditor General for the State Audit Office and Mr Dainius ŽALIMAS, President of the Constitutional Court. The rapporteurs held discussions with Mr Visvaldas MATIJOŠAITIS, Mayor of Kaunas, Mr Valerijus MAKŪNAS, Mayor of Kaunas District Municipality, Mr Kęstutis VAITUKAITIS, Mayor of Elektrėnai municipality and Vilnius City councillors. They also exchanged views with the National Delegation of Lithuania to the Congress and the leaders of the Association of Local Authorities in Lithuania and the Lithuanian Rural Communities Union.