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On 21 May in Brussels, the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Vytautas Leškevičius called on EU Ministers of European Affairs to confer wide powers on Irish Presidency of the EU Council to seek a political agreement in negotiations with the European Parliament on the EU Multiannual Financial Framework. “Our goal should remain to conclude the Multiannual Financial Framework negotiations with the European Parliament during the Irish EU Presidency. It is essential prerequisite to adopt the Multiannual Financial Framework related legal acts by the end of this year. In order to be successful in further talks with the European Parliament, we must give the Irish Presidency a broad negotiating mandate enabling them to continue discussions and to succeed reaching acceptable compromise with the European Parliament. We support the Presidency on all questions,” Leškevičius said.

Rapid progress in the negotiations with the European Parliament is important for Lithuania, which will take the helm of the Presidency of the EU Council on 1 July. After reaching a political agreement with the European Parliament, the Presidency of the EU Council and the European Parliament by the end of 2013 will still need to reach agreement on the around 70 pieces of sector-specific legislation underpinning the EU’s funding programmes. This would allow the new programmes to start on time.

At the General Affairs Council meeting, the Ministers also discussed the preparation of the European Council of 22 May. The European Council meeting will focus on tackling tax evasion and fraud, as well as energy issues.

“It is of utmost importance not to miss the deadline set by the European Council of 4 February 2011 regarding the completion of the EU internal energy market by 2014 and ending the energy isolation of certain member states by 2015. The Council is right in pointing to the importance of a level playing field between EU and third country energy producers, as it has a direct impact on European competitiveness and jobs,” Leškevičius said.

The European Council meeting will also discuss increase of investments in modern energy infrastructure, high energy prices, diversifying energy sources and increasing energy efficiency, equitable competitive conditions among energy suppliers inside and outside the EU.  Lithuania calls on including another important element – the nuclear safety in the EU neighbourhood - in draft conclusions.

The Lithuanian Foreign Vice-Minister also welcomed the proposed initiatives to fight tax fraud and said that a further progress in this area would ensure more transparency of the tax systems and would have positive impact on public finances.