Press release, 23 April 2013
Speaker of the Seimas, Vydas Gedvilas, took over the Presidency of the Conference of Speakers of the EU Parliaments. 23 April 2013.
Photo by Kaja Krawczyk, Office of the Sejm, Poland
At the annual Conference of Speakers of the Parliaments of the European Union held in the Cypriot capital of Nicosia, Vydas Gedvilas, Speaker of the Seimas, took over the Presidency of the Conference and invited the Speakers of the EU national Parliaments, President of the European Parliament and Speakers of the EU candidate countries to events of parliamentary dimension of the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union:
“I am greatly privileged to commend Cyprus for excellent organisation of the Conference of Speakers of the EU Parliaments that crowns the successful Cyprus Presidency of the Council. We sincerely thank our Cypriot colleagues for an interesting and topical programme, warm welcome and hospitality.
In the second half of this year, Lithuania will hold the Presidency of the Council for the first time in its history. We are eagerly waiting for this event and making responsible preparations for it.
The Lithuanian Seimas will play a significant role in helping to achieve the following priorities of the Lithuanian Presidency: strengthening of energy security, effective implementation of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, bringing the countries of the Eastern Partnership closer to the EU and effective protection of the EU external borders.
The Seimas has recognised that higher employment and financial sustainability are vital EU priorities. We will seek lasting economic growth and competitiveness in the EU while creating a credible, growing and open Europe.
In the second half of 2013, the Seimas will hold ten events of parliamentary dimension, including the Inter-parliamentary Conference established today. Furthermore, the Seimas will have a great honour to hold the Conference of Speakers of the EU Parliaments in April 2014. We are ready for that. Taking this opportunity, dear Colleagues, I would like to kindly invite you to come to Vilnius. It will be a great honour for me to receive you in the Seimas.
We will be happy to welcome you in Lithuania and Vilnius!”
The Conference of Speakers of the EU Parliaments is organised by the parliament of a state holding the Presidency of the Council in the second half of the year. In the spring of 2014, the Conference will take place in Vilnius.
At the Conference in Nicosia, the Speakers of the EU national Parliaments proposed to hold, during the Lithuanian Presidency, the first inaugural Conference where members from the EU national Parliaments and the European Parliament would discuss economic and budgetary matters. The Conference should be attended by representatives of committees of all the EU national Parliaments and the European Parliament responsible for budgetary, financial and economic policies. The Conference would take place twice a year in line with the European Semester and could replace the meetings of chairs of respective parliamentary committees.
Public Relations Unit, Communications Department
