On 22 April 2013, Vydas Gedvilas, Speaker of the Seimas, met with Josip Leko, Speaker of the Sabor of the Republic of Croatia, in the framework of the Conference of Speakers of the EU Parliaments taking place in the Cypriot capital of Nicosia. At the meeting they discussed the scope for strengthening inter-parliamentary co-operation between Lithuania and Croatia as well as the prospects of Croatia’s accession to the EU on 1 July this year.
The Speaker of the Seimas expressed his belief that following the ratification of the Croatian Accession Treaty by the remaining two EU Member States, no obstacle would remain for the country to become a fully-fledged EU Member State on the first day of the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the EU. Mr Gedvilas repeatedly invited his Croatian colleague to the solemn sitting of the Seimas to mark the start of the Lithuanian Presidency.
The discussion also touched on the forthcoming visit of the Lithuanian delegation under Mr Gedvilas’ leadership to the Croatian Parliament, parliamentary dimension of the Lithuanian Presidency, benefits of the EU membership, and prospects for developing friendly bilateral and multilateral relations.
Renata Lygienė, Head of the Office, Committee on European Affairs, tel: +370 5 239 6592, e-mail: [email protected]
Loreta Raulinaitytė, Director, Communications Department, tel: +370 5 239 6267, e-mail: [email protected]
