Press release, 5 September 2013
On 5 September 2013, Vydas Gedvilas, Speaker of the Seimas, met with André Flahaut, President of the Chamber of Deputies of the Kingdom of Belgium.
Noting that the Lithuanian and Belgian parliamentary leaders met for the first time, Vydas Gedvilas briefly introduced the guest to the priorities of the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union and past and future parliamentary events of the Presidency.
The Speaker of the Seimas expressed his satisfaction with the close economic cooperation between the two countries and the hope that the inter-parliamentary relations between Lithuania and Belgium would strengthen in the future.
The Seimas leader also recalled one of the priority goals of our country’s Presidency of the Council of the EU – signing an association agreement with Ukraine seeking the EU membership. Vydas Gedvilas expressed hope that Belgium would take the supporting side. The President of the Chamber of Deputies promised to communicate this request to the Belgian Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister.
President Flahaut confirmed that he saw great potential and prospects for the development of parliamentary diplomacy between the two countries. “I will tell my country’s parliamentarians to come to Lithuania more frequently, and I in turn invite you to visit Belgium,” said the guest.
In his opinion, the role, involvement and visibility of national parliaments in key decision making is increasing. "Parliaments also play an important role in relations with NATO and the EU. Mutual communication is very important, in particular for small countries such as Lithuania and Belgium,” stated André Flahaut.
Tomas Beržinskas, Adviser to the Speaker of the Seimas, tel. +370 5239 6019, mob. +370 698 42 786, e-mail: [email protected]
