News

On 21 June, the European Union General Affairs Council in Luxembourg examined draft conclusions for the European Council meeting to be held on 23 and 24 June.

The European Council is due to focus on migration and on the implementing of the Schengen Agreement that is related to migration, approval of the EU Council’s recommendations to member states on economic policy and review progress in negotiations on Croatia’s accession to the EU.

“Ensuring the freedom of movement on the EU level is very important to Lithuania. Response to new security challenges must be firstly sought within the framework of the current Schengen Agreement, and any security measures in the sphere of the free movement of persons have to be exceptional, clearly defined in time and taken according to predetermined criteria,” Lithuania’s Permanent Representative to the European Union, Ambassador Raimundas Karoblis said at the meeting.

He welcomed Croatia’s progress in negotiations on its accession to the EU and spoke in favour of setting a preliminary date for the accession of Croatia to the EU during the European Council meeting that will be held on 23 and 24 June.

The General Affairs Council endorsed the Commission’s recommendations to EU member states on economic policy. Recommendations to Lithuania are generally in line with the efforts of the Government to consolidate budget and to stabilize the country’s economy.

The Council also took note of the presentation by the Polish, Danish and Cypriot delegations - the ‘trio’ of presidencies - of a draft 18-month programme.