On 4 February, Lithuanian Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Vytautas Leškevičius will attend the EU’s General Affairs Council meeting in Brussels.

Ireland, which hosts the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from 1 January, will present its priorities for the Presidency at the Council meeting. The Ministers will also discuss the preparation of the European Council meeting scheduled for 7-8 February, which will focus on the EU’s trading policies with third countries. The meeting will also discuss Syria, Mali situations after the Arab Spring.

Among other issues, the Council will also examine a draft annotated agenda for the European Council meeting on 14-15 March 2013.