LITHUANIAN POSITION ON THE EU CONSTITUTIONAL TREATY WAS PRESENTED DURING CONSULTATIONS IN GERMANY
On 3 May the Undersecretary of Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Žygimantas Pavilionis took part in consultations in Germany. During the consultations he exchanged opinions on the future of the European Union Constitutional Treaty with representatives of German EU Presidency.
During the meetings with German officials Ž.Pavilionis presented the principled position of Lithuania on the EU constitutional process, which was approved by the Government the day before. Lithuania speaks up for preserving the gist of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe. Therefore, Lithuania strives for the further discussions to be based on the text of the Constitutional Treaty, which was agreed upon in 2004.
Lithuania could endorse the suggestions to complement the Treaty with additional protocols or declarations, or to review the provisions on symbols and names, however, it would oppose to greater harmonization of taxes and social policy or supplementary criteria for EU membership.
The Undersecretary of Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that Lithuania supported every endeavour of German EU Presidency to come to a decision regarding the EU Constitutional Treaty. Lithuania seeks that in June 2007 the European Council agree on the future structure of the Treaty, approve the negotiation agenda and define a clear and finite intergovernmental conference mandate.
On 29 October 2004, the EU leaders signed the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe, which was to come into effect on November 1, 2006. However, due to the failed referendums in France and the Netherlands it was decided to postpone the enactment of the Treaty.
At the moment the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe has been ratified by 18 countries: Lithuania, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Spain, Slovakia, Greece, Austria, Germany, Latvia, Cyprus, Malta, Luxembourg, Belgium, Estonia, Finland, Bulgaria and Romania.
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