Dossier · Resolution on a topical subject

Attempted takeover of Lithuania’s public broadcaster and the threat to democracy in Lithuania

Reference: 2026/2568(RSP) Resolution on a topical subject
Where it stands: Parliament adopted the text on 22 January 2026. This is its final position on the matter.
Stage: Parliament’s position

More facts (3)

Decisions in plenary: 1
Last vote: 22 Jan 2026 · Adopted
Versions: 9 versions

Decisions in plenary: 1
Last vote: 22 Jan 2026 · Adopted
Versions: 9 versions

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Where it stands

The steps of this kind of dossier and how far it has come, from the procedure file.

Tabled for plenary (done)
Plenary vote (done) Adopted 22 January 2026
Parliament’s position (done) Final

A resolution tabled by political groups, usually on an urgent matter or in reaction to a statement by the Commission or Council. Not binding.

People

Committees and members responsible for the dossier, as the procedure file names them. Groups as recorded there.

The procedure file names no committee or rapporteur for this dossier.

Decisions in plenary, 1

Every decision Parliament took on this dossier, newest first.

**Effect**: what the decision did. **Final vote**: for–against–abstained, and how it was recorded.
Date	Decision	Kind	Effect	Final vote
22 Jan 2026	Attempted takeover of Lithuania’s public broadcaster and the threat to democracy in Lithuania	Resolutions	Adopted	385 for, 165 against, 35 abstained by roll call

Voting grid

Export

Every roll-call vote on the dossier, in date and voting order, with each group's line at the date of the vote.

Each group's clear line at the date of the vote: a position with at least two thirds of the group's votes (at least 10 members voting), otherwise Divided; “< 10 voted” when fewer took part. Result: outcome, for–against–abstained (method).

Voting grid of 2026/2568(RSP): one row per roll call, one column per group, then the result.
Vote	The Left	Greens	S&D	Renew	EPP	ECR	Patriots	ESN	Result
22 Jan 2026 Paragraph 11 — part 1	For	For	For	For	For	Against	Against	Against	Adopted430–157–20
22 Jan 2026 Paragraph 11 — part 2	For	For	For	For	For	Against	Against	Against	Adopted412–171–28
22 Jan 2026 Recital J — part 1	For	For	For	For	For	Against	Abst.	Against	Adopted422–107–73
22 Jan 2026 Recital J — part 2	For	For	Against	For	For	Against	Against	Against	Adopted327–235–42
22 Jan 2026 Separate vote on recital K	For	For	For	For	For	Against	Against	Divided	Adopted406–149–50
22 Jan 2026 Recital L — part 1	For	For	For	For	For	Against	Against	Against	Adopted425–147–37
22 Jan 2026 Recital L — part 2	For	For	Against	For	For	Against	Against	Against	Adopted328–237–33
22 Jan 2026 Recital O — part 1	For	For	For	For	For	Against	Against	Against	Adopted426–151–31
22 Jan 2026 Recital O — part 2	For	For	For	For	For	Against	Against	Against	Adopted398–164–40
22 Jan 2026 Recital P — part 1	For	For	For	For	For	Against	Against	Against	Adopted419–158–25
22 Jan 2026 Recital P — part 2	For	For	For	For	For	Against	Against	Abst.	Adopted426–141–42
22 Jan 2026 Recital Q — part 1	For	For	For	For	For	Against	Against	Against	Adopted421–150–35
22 Jan 2026 Recital Q — part 2	For	For	For	For	For	Against	Against	Against	Adopted405–155–41
22 Jan 2026 Separate vote on recital T	For	For	For	For	For	Against	Against	Against	Adopted429–153–26
22 Jan 2026 Final vote — text as a whole	For	For	For	For	For	Against	Against	Against	Adopted385–165–35

22 Jan 2026 Paragraph 11 — part 1

Adopted 430–157–20

The Left

For
Greens

For
S&D

For
Renew

For
EPP

For
ECR

Against
Patriots

Against
ESN

Against
22 Jan 2026 Paragraph 11 — part 2

Adopted 412–171–28

The Left

For
Greens

For
S&D

For
Renew

For
EPP

For
ECR

Against
Patriots

Against
ESN

Against
22 Jan 2026 Recital J — part 1

Adopted 422–107–73

The Left

For
Greens

For
S&D

For
Renew

For
EPP

For
ECR

Against
Patriots

Abst.
ESN

Against
22 Jan 2026 Recital J — part 2

Adopted 327–235–42

The Left

For
Greens

For
S&D

Against
Renew

For
EPP

For
ECR

Against
Patriots

Against
ESN

Against
22 Jan 2026 Separate vote on recital K

Adopted 406–149–50

The Left

For
Greens

For
S&D

For
Renew

For
EPP

For
ECR

Against
Patriots

Against
ESN

Divided
22 Jan 2026 Recital L — part 1

Adopted 425–147–37

The Left

For
Greens

For
S&D

For
Renew

For
EPP

For
ECR

Against
Patriots

Against
ESN

Against
22 Jan 2026 Recital L — part 2

Adopted 328–237–33

The Left

For
Greens

For
S&D

Against
Renew

For
EPP

For
ECR

Against
Patriots

Against
ESN

Against
22 Jan 2026 Recital O — part 1

Adopted 426–151–31

The Left

For
Greens

For
S&D

For
Renew

For
EPP

For
ECR

Against
Patriots

Against
ESN

Against
22 Jan 2026 Recital O — part 2

Adopted 398–164–40

The Left

For
Greens

For
S&D

For
Renew

For
EPP

For
ECR

Against
Patriots

Against
ESN

Against
22 Jan 2026 Recital P — part 1

Adopted 419–158–25

The Left

For
Greens

For
S&D

For
Renew

For
EPP

For
ECR

Against
Patriots

Against
ESN

Against
22 Jan 2026 Recital P — part 2

Adopted 426–141–42

The Left

For
Greens

For
S&D

For
Renew

For
EPP

For
ECR

Against
Patriots

Against
ESN

Abst.
22 Jan 2026 Recital Q — part 1

Adopted 421–150–35

The Left

For
Greens

For
S&D

For
Renew

For
EPP

For
ECR

Against
Patriots

Against
ESN

Against
22 Jan 2026 Recital Q — part 2

Adopted 405–155–41

The Left

For
Greens

For
S&D

For
Renew

For
EPP

For
ECR

Against
Patriots

Against
ESN

Against
22 Jan 2026 Separate vote on recital T

Adopted 429–153–26

The Left

For
Greens

For
S&D

For
Renew

For
EPP

For
ECR

Against
Patriots

Against
ESN

Against
22 Jan 2026 Final vote — text as a whole

Adopted 385–165–35

The Left

For
Greens

For
S&D

For
Renew

For
EPP

For
ECR

Against
Patriots

Against
ESN

Against

Show all 24 votes (the final votes and the latest other votes are shown: 15)

Versions, 9

The text of the dossier, version by version, newest first. Compare shows what changed between two consecutive versions.

Adopted by Parliament22 Jan 2026

Adopted text TA10-0024/2026 TA-10-2026-0024

Compare with tabled for plenary
Tabled for plenary20 Jan 2026

Joint motion RC-B10-0070/2026 RC-10-2026-0070

Compare with tabled for plenary
Tabled for plenary19 Jan 2026

Motion for a resolution B10-0070/2026 B-10-2026-0070
Tabled for plenary19 Jan 2026

Motion for a resolution B10-0075/2026 B-10-2026-0075
Tabled for plenary19 Jan 2026

Motion for a resolution B10-0073/2026 B-10-2026-0073
Tabled for plenary19 Jan 2026

Motion for a resolution B10-0078/2026 B-10-2026-0078
Tabled for plenary19 Jan 2026

Motion for a resolution B10-0076/2026 B-10-2026-0076
Tabled for plenary19 Jan 2026

Motion for a resolution B10-0072/2026 B-10-2026-0072
Tabled for plenary19 Jan 2026

Motion for a resolution B10-0074/2026 B-10-2026-0074

Each version in short Written by AI from the official text — check the source

Adopted text TA10-0024/2026: This resolution condemns attempts to undermine the independence of Lithuania's public broadcaster LRT through funding freezes and changes to dismissal rules, and urges the Seimas to reject pending amendments.
Motion for a resolution B10-0070/2026: This resolution addresses the attempted takeover of Lithuania's public broadcaster (LRT) and the threat to democracy in Lithuania. It condemns legislative and administrative measures that undermine LRT independence, including funding freezes and reduced dismissal safeguards.
Motion for a resolution B10-0075/2026: This resolution expresses serious concern about Lithuanian amendments to the LRT law that ease dismissal of the director general and freeze the broadcaster's budget, saying they breach EU media freedom rules.
Motion for a resolution B10-0073/2026: This resolution condemns attempts to undermine the independence of Lithuania's public broadcaster LRT through funding cuts and weakened dismissal safeguards, and calls on the Commission to assess and act against these measures.
Motion for a resolution B10-0078/2026: This resolution addresses the attempted takeover of Lithuania's public broadcaster LRT and the threat to democracy in Lithuania. It reaffirms media freedom and the rule of law, stresses Lithuania's competence while recalling EU law compliance, and calls for continued work and cooperation with the Venice Commission.
Motion for a resolution B10-0076/2026: This resolution expresses concern about changes to the governance of Lithuania's public broadcaster (LRT) made by the former ruling coalition after the 2024 Seimas elections, replacing the simple majority appointment procedure with a two-thirds qualified majority and abolishing the secret ballot.
Motion for a resolution B10-0072/2026: This resolution addresses the attempted takeover of Lithuania's public broadcaster LRT and threats to democracy. It supports Lithuanian reforms to improve governance and accountability while safeguarding LRT's independence, and condemns Poland's 2023 public media takeover.

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What changed, 2

Between consecutive versions, newest pair first. The overviews are written by AI from the two texts; the comparison shows every change.

Latest Tabled for plenary → Adopted by Parliament Joint motion RC-B10-0070/2026 → Adopted text TA10-0024/2026

AI: What changed Written by AI from the official text — check the source

The versions differ only in formal points: punctuation and decimal separator formatting are updated.

Read the changes · Report a problem

Compare the two versions
Tabled for plenary → Tabled for plenary Motion for a resolution B10-0070/2026 → Joint motion RC-B10-0070/2026

AI: What changed Written by AI from the official text — check the source

The resolution now explicitly links the LRT crisis to hybrid warfare and adds a paragraph on Russian interference. It strengthens condemnation of ad personam legislation and calls for rejecting pending amendments, including lowering dismissal thresholds. It adds details on the Venice Commission's urgent opinion and visit, and on the audit's positive findings. It updates recitals on the Prime Minister's resignation, the audit, and the budget freeze, and adds new recitals on protests and a working group. The other changes are formal or wording: rephrasing, minor edits, and updated forwarding instructions.

Read the changes · Report a problem

Compare the two versions

Timeline, 3

Every recorded step, newest first, grouped by stage; the latest stage is open.

Plenary stage 3 steps · 20 Jan 2026–22 Jan 2026

22 January 2026

Plenary vote

Sitting of 22 Jan 2026 Motion for a resolution B10-0070/2026 Motion for a resolution B10-0072/2026 Motion for a resolution B10-0073/2026 Motion for a resolution B10-0074/2026 Motion for a resolution B10-0075/2026 Motion for a resolution B10-0076/2026 Motion for a resolution B10-0078/2026 Adopted text TA10-0024/2026
21 January 2026

Debated in plenary

MEPs debated the text in the chamber ahead of the vote.

Sitting of 21 Jan 2026
20 January 2026

10 amendments tabled for the plenary vote

Groups propose changes to the tabled text; each is voted on before the final vote.

Amendment 1 Amendments 2–10

Connections

Texts, decisions, people and other dossiers related to this one.

Texts voted on

Text MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the attempted takeover of Lithuania’s public broadcaster and the threat to democracy in Lithuania Motion for a resolution B10-0075/2026 22 Jan 2026

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Sources & citation

Where the facts on this page come from, and how to cite it.

Permalink: https://news.eu-parl.st-solutions.dev/dossiers/2026-2568
Official source: Procedure file (Legislative Observatory, OEIL)
Data source: EP Open Data API: procedure record
Licensed CC BY 4.0.
Retrieved: 25 September 2026

Cite as

European Parliament (2026). “Attempted takeover of Lithuania’s public broadcaster and the threat to democracy in Lithuania”. Dossier, 22 January 2026. procId 2026-2568, reference 2026/2568(RSP). EU Parl Watch Research. https://news.eu-parl.st-solutions.dev/dossiers/2026-2568 (retrieved 25 September 2026). Official source: Procedure file (Legislative Observatory, OEIL), https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/en/procedure-file?reference=2026%2F2568(RSP). Data: EP Open Data API: procedure record, https://data.europarl.europa.eu/api/v2/procedures/2026-2568 (CC BY 4.0).

BibTeX

@misc{epw-dossier-2026-2568,
  author = {{European Parliament}},
  title = {{Attempted takeover of Lithuania’s public broadcaster and the threat to democracy in Lithuania}},
  year = {2026},
  date = {2026-01-22},
  howpublished = {\url{https://news.eu-parl.st-solutions.dev/dossiers/2026-2568}},
  url = {https://news.eu-parl.st-solutions.dev/dossiers/2026-2568},
  urldate = {2026-09-25},
  publisher = {EU Parl Watch Research},
  note = {Dossier. procId 2026-2568, reference 2026/2568(RSP). Official source: https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/en/procedure-file?reference=2026\%2F2568(RSP). Data: EP Open Data API: procedure record (CC BY 4.0)}
}