Your Excellency Mme President

Dear Speaker, Dear Mr Gedvilas,

Distinguished Members,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Colleagues,

Let me, first of all, express the apologies of the President of the European Parliament, Mr Martin Schulz, for his absence today due to the ongoing Plenary Session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg. The President asked me personally to convey his message on such an emblematic day for Lithuanians and for the European Union as a whole.

On Sunday night in Zagreb and on Monday in Strasbourg, we officially welcomed to our big European family its 28th Member, Croatia. It was a historic day for Croatia, for the EU and for Europe. Europe is taking another important step towards reunification; Croatia opens a new chapter in its and in our history.

This is week is also historic for your country. Lithuania is launching its first Presidency of the Council of the European Union. For the next six months the work of driving the EU agenda lies with Lithuania, in a very difficult period for Europe, one year before the elections of the European Parliament. These elections will be different, our times are different. It is time for the EU to act. At the end of your Presidency, on the 1st of January 2014, Euro-zone will welcome a new member, Latvia, a true story of economic success.

It was only nine years ago, on May 1st 2004, when Lithuania was celebrating its accession to the EU together with nine other countries. The effect of this was not to enlarge Europe but to overcome its artificial division. The new members didn’t become Europeans. They have always been Europeans. As the so-called "architect of the European integration project ", Robert Schuman, pointed out in his inspiring speech known as the "Schuman Declaration" on 9 May 1950: “Europe will not be made all at once, or according to a single plan. It will be built through concrete achievements which first create a de facto solidarity. ".

In Lithuania, joining the EU gave rise to the hope of a better future. The Lithuanians hold firmly to the idea of Europe in good times and in bad. This is partly because they know that the funds they obtain from the EU budget are helping to boost the Lithuanian economy.

Today we gather to celebrate the start of the first ever Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Yesterday morning in Strasbourg we listened to President Dalia Grybauskaite, a true pro-European politician and a very successful European Commissioner, outlining the priorities and key tasks of the Lithuanian Presidency working programme.

The European Parliament has great expectations from this Presidency, as we are approaching now the end of the legislature. This means that there will be on the table an enormous quantity of legislative dossiers, such as the Multiannual Financial Framework, that should be adopted in a short delay. In order to restore fully the EU economic credibility, deepening and strengthening the Economic and Monetary Union will be crucial in the coming months.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The European Parliament welcomes that this presidency is committed to make process in all these dossiers. We are also convinced that the Lithuanians will certainly show a clear leadership and extensive expertise in key issues.

First of all, we have no doubt that this Presidency will leave its print in the EU cooperation with Eastern Partners, and more specifically in the 3rd Eastern Partnership Summit this November in Vilnius.

Lithuania also knows how important it is to boost energy independence and, in this respect, we are convinced that strong efforts will be pursued to complete our internal energy market.  The European Parliament welcomes your strong commitment to properly monitor the already agreed actions, namely the implementation of the 3rd liberalisation package and the boosting of renewables and alternative energy sources.

Ladies and gentlemen,

An enormous workload is ahead of us, but the European Parliament is confident that the Lithuanian Presidency will deliver in its mediation role and that it will treat the EP as an equal partner in the course of the negotiations.

In the coming six months we will see the launching of the campaign of the European elections to be held in May next year. We live in difficult times for Europe. Ordinary people are increasingly losing faith in the ability and the willingness of democratic institutions to take action. Above all, this Presidency brings Lithuania an incredible opportunity to feel Europe, to discuss Europe, to choose more Europe! That is why your commitment and your euro-enthusiasm is all the more important. Yes, the European Parliament and all national Parliaments – we are the chamber of citizens. The democratic dimension is very important. And the European democracy needs strong parliaments. We give the European decisions more transparency and we give the European decisions and all political decisions the democratic legitimacy.

Thank you very much for your attention and good luck.