News

On 14 June in Dublin, the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Vytautas Leškevičius and the Irish Minister for European Affairs Lucinda Creighton discussed goals achieved by the six-month Irish EU Presidency and the agenda under the Lithuanian Presidency, which will begin on 1 July. Leškevičius noted that the Irish and Lithuanian Presidencies of the EU Council shared similar priorities: financial stability, economic growth, job creation, the EU’s enlargement and neighbourhood.

The officials of the two countries identified the talks with the European Parliament on EU budget for 2014-2020 as a key item on the current agenda. They also agreed to strive to adopt all the legislative acts needed for the multiannual financial framework to enter into force in the beginning of next year.

The agenda includes other important items: ensuring financial stability in the EU, strengthening the Economic and Monetary Union, and the creation of a banking union.

The Vice-Minister assessed Ireland’s contribution to the strengthening of the EU’s single market and presented future steps of the Lithuanian Presidency in achieving this goal. Leškevičius drew Creighton’s attention to Lithuania’s plans to focus more on creating digital marketing, he also underlined that it was important to complete the EU’s internal energy market.

The meeting also discussed the EU’s relations with the Eastern Partnership countries and the Eastern Partnership Summit, to be held in November. The officials stressed the importance of cooperation with these partners and agreed to pursue success at the summit in Vilnius.

Leškevičius drew Creighton’s attention to the fact that the EU legislative cycle would be marked by a heavier legislative workload than usual. The Vice-Minister affirmed Lithuania’s readiness to work smoothly and effectively, and thanked Ireland for sharing valuable experience, as well as for smooth cooperation within the framework of the Trio Presidency.

Leškevičius discussed priorities for Lithuania’s incoming Presidency of the EU Council also at the meeting with the Chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Union Affairs Dominic Hannigan.

During the visit, the Lithuanian Vice-Minister discussed Lithuania’s incoming Presidency of the EU Council during the meeting with political experts, representatives of the media, diplomatic corps and non-governmental organizations at Ireland’s Institute of International and European Affairs.