News

On 14 June in Luxembourg, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis took part in the session of General Affairs Council of the European Union. The Council examined draft conclusions for the European Council meeting.

It is expected that on 17 June the European Council will adopt the new EU 2020 strategy for sustainable growth and employment, and will approve the integrated economic and employment policy guidelines.

The agenda of the European Council also includes a discussion on an enhanced coordination of economic policies and climate change. The Council will make decisions regarding the opening of   negotiations with Iceland and Estonia’s accession to the euro zone.

Minister A.Ažubalis stressed that Lithuania had strong interest in an agreement on activities to remove obstacles for economic growth not just at national level, but also at the EU level. The list of obstacles includes not efficient functioning of internal market and underdeveloped cross-border transportation and energy interconnections.

“We aim to have ambitious and timely proposals from the European Commission regarding the EU level tools that are necessary for the implementation of the EU 2020 strategy,” the Minister said.

Lithuania also spoke up for the initiatives regarding the implementation of economic policy and the strengthening of its monitoring. These initiatives include improving the effectiveness of the Stability and Growth Pact and strengthening the EU’s budgetary discipline.

According to the Minister, Lithuania remains interested that the issues of climate change should be addressed after duly evaluating the efforts of international partners.

Minister A.Ažubalis also expressed Lithuania’s readiness to approve the opening of talks on Iceland’s accession to the EU at the forthcoming European Council and welcomed Estonia's efforts to join the euro zone.