News

On 30 October, Lithuanian Vice-Ministers of Foreign Affairs Vytautas Leškevičius and Andrius Krivas met with members of a delegation of the Committee on EU Affairs of the Parliament of Sweden, who are visiting Lithuania. The Foreign Vice-Ministers and Swedish Parliamentarians discussed the Lithuanian EU Presidency’s agenda and preparations for the upcoming Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius.

During the meeting, the Lithuanian Foreign Vice-Minister V.Leškevičius stressed that Lithuania’s Presidency of the EU Council actively sought to achieve its aims to build a credible, growing and open Europe. In order to create a credible Europe, particular attention was paid to further creation of the European banking union. To increase growth special significance was attached to the Multiannual Financial Framework negotiations, the plan to deepen the internal market, and the fight against unemployment.

“The Lithuanian Presidency has achieved progress in all these areas; however, it is very important to start the Multiannual Financial Framework’s programmes in time. Therefore, the European Parliament is expected to give its consent in November,” V.Leškevičius said.

The Lithuanian Foreign Vice-Minister A.Krivas identified the implementation of the Eastern Partnership Policy as the Lithuanian Presidency’s key priority.

“Lithuania and Sweden share a common approach to the objectives of the Eastern Partnership Summit, which will be held on November 28 and 29. The Summit is an especially significant event, which will set a perspective for the Eastern Partnership Policy. We believe that the EU will sign an Association Agreement with Ukraine and initial analogous agreements with Moldova and Georgia at the Vilnius Summit,” A.Krivas said.

The Swedish Parliamentarians also took interest in the security and defence issues that arose during Lithuania’s Presidency of the EU Council.

In Vilnius, the delegation of the Committee on EU Affairs of the Parliament of Sweden attended the 50th anniversary session of the Conference of Community and European Affairs Committees of Parliaments of the European Union (COSAC) at the Seimas (Parliament) of Lithuania.