Press release: http://www3.lrs.lt/pls/inter/w5_show?p_r=4028&p_d=132853&p_k=2
Transcript
“Dear Colleagues, I am privileged and honoured to introduce to you and to welcome to the Seimas the Right Honourable John Bercow, Speaker of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The United Kingdom and Lithuania are the countries of exceptional history, the nations that love freedom and peoples. We highly appreciate non-recognition by the United Kingdom of our occupation. Our two countries are united by our common values and common approach to a large number of economic, international, security and transatlantic cooperation issues. There is another link between our countries – a large Lithuanian community in the United Kingdom where there is their home now. We are happy to have an opportunity to meet you, dear Mr Speaker, and discuss the matters of mutual interest.
Lithuania will take over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from Ireland on 1 July 2013, which will be an exceptional experience for us and we are preparing for it in a responsible manner. The following priority areas have been set for the Presidency: financial stability, smart growth and higher employment, open and safe Europe and its neighbourhood. Our special focus in on the EU Eastern Partnership and we hope to welcome high level representatives at the third Summit meeting in November. We find it important that the most active Eastern Partnership countries be given further incentives to get closer to the European Union when their association and free trade agreements are concluded. The Parliament will hold the Presidency events of the parliamentary dimension (twelve events scheduled). Those will offer a chance for parliamentarians to discuss urgent European Union matters. All the events will take place in the Seimas. The Seimas will also host the Conference of Speakers of EU Parliaments in 2014. Mr Speaker, we are looking forward to your active engagement there.
We are interested in further development of bilateral trade relations with the United Kingdom and attraction of UK investment. Energy continues to be high on our agenda as we want to see the EU internal energy market completed. David Cameron, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, gave his broadly-discussed speech on the UK’s vision of the future of the European Union. We understand Mr Cameron’s concern about, for instance, competition, the gap between the European Union and its citizens, the role of national Parliaments in the political process, etc.
Let me underline that the United Kingdom is important to the European Union. I hope you agree with me that the European Union is important to the United Kingdom too. I am convinced that my colleagues, fellow parliamentarians, have brought their questions here. Dear Colleagues, I would like to remind you that Speaker Bercow was here, in Lithuania, back in 1992. As a British MP he was very proactive on Lithuanian democracy and Lithuanian independence. This is his second visit to Lithuania”.
