The Lithuanian Presidency will seek a common goal of building credible, growing and open Europe

This year, the European Union continues to focus on economic growth, financial stability and job creation, therefore the Lithuanian Presidency will mobilise all the forces towards three aims: creation of a credible, growing and open Europe. These are the guidelines of the Lithuanian Presidency that were presented by the Lithuanian Government to the European Commission in Brussels earlier today.

“Europe must remain the symbol of credibility and growth. The wellbeing of the EU citizens depends on sound financial and economic policies and initiatives that promote growth and increase competitiveness. As Presidency, Lithuania will seek progress in legislation pursuing growth and jobs, and it will also promote the development of open and secure Europe and its neighbourhood”, – said Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius. The Lithuanian Prime Minister stressed that the success of the Lithuanian Presidency would depend on the effective and close cooperation with the European Commission and other EU institutions, as well as the EU Member States.

In meetings with the European Commissioners, the Lithuanian Ministers noted the need for further deepening of the Economic and Monetary Union, implementation of economic governance reforms and the Agenda for Growth. The Government believes that the economic growth can be given a new impetus by the completion of the internal energy market by 2014, and the focus on innovation and closer euro-integration.

The Lithuanian Government delegation welcomed the progress achieved by the current EU Presidency as regards the EU Multiannual Financial Framework for 2014-2020, and expressed hope for the final agreement to be reached in June. The Lithuanian Presidency will have to ensure that all the legislation relating to the Multiannual Financial Framework be agreed and passed.

Among other items on the meeting agenda was relations with Eastern partners. The Lithuanian Government stressed that the second half of the year will be of particular importance to the Eastern Partnership, and tangible results are expected from the third EU and the Eastern Partnership Summit to be held in Vilnius next November.

The aim of the visit to Brussels by the Prime Minister and 10 members of the Government is to present the priorities of the Lithuanian Presidency to the EU institutions. The Lithuanian delegation is later meeting with President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz and President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy.

The Lithuanian delegation, headed by Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius, includes Minister of Health Vytenis Andriukaitis, Minister of Interior Dailis Alfonsas Barakauskas, Minister of Culture Šarūnas Birutis, Minister of Agriculture Vigilijus Jukna, Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius, Defence Minister Juozas Olekas, Social Security and Labour Minister Algimanta Pabedinskienė, Education and Science Minister Dainius Pavalkis, Minister of Transport Rimantas Sinkevicius and Minister of Finance Rimantas Šadžius.

Lithuania assumes EU Presidency on 1 July.