Lithuania set to take EU Council reins
Baku, July 1 (AZERTAC). The eyes and ears of Europe, and the world, will be turned to Lithuania for the next six months as the country takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. In a historic first for a Baltic country, starting July 1 many of the EU’s most important decisions will go through Vilnius, the state capital.
This represents a major achievement for the country and its citizens.
Speaking about the benefits of the upcoming Presidency, Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite said that it will open up invaluable opportunities for the country. “After nine years of EU membership we can test our capacities and demonstrate that we are not only good members of the European family, but also excellent neighbors. The Presidency also means enhancing the country’s visibility and awareness, and should give a boost to the economy. More than 200 various meetings will take place in Lithuania with around 30,000 participants to attend,” she said, reports ELTA.
Permanent Representative of Lithuania Ambassador Raimundas Karoblis, speaking at an event organized by Belgian, German and Lithuanian think-tanks on June 18 in Brussels, said “The Presidency is an opportunity for Lithuania to contribute to the future of Europe as well as a chance to increase its visibility and demonstrate that it can lead the legislative process as efficiently as other member states.”
Setting out the priorities
Lithuania will focus on pursing a credible, growing and open Europe, the country`s Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevicius said at the launch event of the Official Guide to the Lithuanian EU Council Presidency, hosted by the Permanent Representation of Lithuania to the EU together with Hill+Knowlton Strategies on June 13.
The Council of the European Union is one of the most important European institutions that, together with the Parliament and the European Commission, contributes to the legislative process in Europe. The holder of the Presidency changes every six months.
The Council works on ratifying EU legislation, coordinates the general economics policies of member countries, approves the annual EU budget, develops foreign and defense policies and submits pacts between Europe and other countries, among other duties. Every member country’s government has a representative in the EU Council.
The leading issues on Lithuania`s agenda for the next six months will include: a focus on employment and social policy, energy security and financial stability. Numerous other items crowd the agenda as well, including Eastern Partners relations, home affairs implementation of various programs, effective management of the EU external border, the fight against terrorism and organized crime, and health issues of the European Union.
Other news in this section
