On 21 January in Ireland, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevičius participated in an informal meeting of Ministers, responsible for the EU policy. At the meeting, the Minister stressed that it was necessary to more actively engage national parliaments, which represent the people’s interests, in the important decision making process at EU level.

The meeting focused on the specific issue of how to ensure transparency in the decision-making process at EU level and in taking joint decisions by individual member states, especially those aimed at further strengthening European economic integration. The meeting also discussed ways to ensure that these decisions would not conflict with the interests of EU citizens.

“Greater engagement of national parliaments and EU citizens in the EU decision-making process is crucial, aiming to ensure the democratic legitimacy and accountability at EU level. In this context, closer cooperation between the EU institutions and national parliaments is especially important. It is an essential condition for achieving a stronger and more united Europe,” Linkevičius said.

The Minister also met with Lucinda Creighton, Minister for European Affairs of the current Irish Presidency of the EU Council. Linkevičius congratulated Ireland on taking over the Presidency of the EU Council for the seventh time and wished to successfully achieve Ireland’s main objective of promoting stability, jobs and growth.