On 17 July 2013, at the beginning of the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, members of the Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI) of the European Parliament visited the Seimas and got acquainted with the priorities of the Lithuanian Presidency in the area of justice presented by the Chair of the Seimas Committee on Legal Affairs, and discussed the most relevant legislative initiatives in this connection. Mr Sabatauskas noted that protection of EU citizens’ and other residents’ rights and legitimate expectations would be given special focus during the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council.

The Head of the delegation, Deputy Chair of JURI Committee, Sebastian Valentin Bodu, emphasised the need to strengthen cooperation between the European Parliament and noted the special importance of the role of national Parliaments in ensuring compliance of the European Commission’s proposals with the principle of subsidiarity.

Member of the Seimas Committees on Legal Affairs and European Affairs, Vilija Aleknaitė-Abramikienė, supported this view and added that: “Cooperation between national parliaments and the European Parliament, and application of the principle of subsidiarity contribute to the legitimacy of the European Union in the eyes of its citizens.”

Deputy Speaker of the Seimas, Chair of the Committee on European Affairs, Gediminas Kirkilas, favoured the developing of the cooperation between the European Parliament and national Parliaments. He noted that the issue concerning the ways to reinforce the cooperation between the European Parliament and national parliaments and to improve subsidiarity checks was also raised during the Meeting of the Chairpersons of the COSAC held at the Seimas on 7–8 July 2013.

The regulation of auditing received a lot of attention during the meeting as well. The Head of JURI delegation, Mr Bodu, was interested in the Seimas’ position concerning the European Commission’s proposals on a Directive and a Regulation on auditing. Member of the Seimas Committees on Audit and European Affairs, Loreta Graužinienė, noted that the legislative proposals had been extensively considered by the Committee on Audit. She expressed hope that both the Directive and the Regulation would be adopted before the new European Parliament election. Member of JURI Committee, Sajjad Karim, expressed his satisfaction with the priority that Lithuania gave to the proposed Directive and the Regulation and added that he also expected finalisation of the consideration of these legislative proposals in the near future; however, he admitted at the same time there were disagreements and diversified opinions within JURI Committee and among political groups of the European Parliament with regard to respective provisions of these proposals.

Member of JURI Committee, Tadeusz Zwiefka underlined the importance of the Stockholm Programme in ensuring protection of EU citizens’ rights. In his opinion, the joint efforts of the European Parliament and national Parliaments need to be intensified, namely, within the scope of the Stockholm Programme, in order to create a maximum added value for European citizens.

When discussing the issue of EU citizens’ rights, member of the Seimas Committees on European Affairs and Education, Science and Culture, Marija Aušrinė Pavilionienė, stressed the significance of the level of culture and intellect of the Member States as it forms the common level of intellect of the European Union. In her view, care should be taken not to violate other countries’ human rights while defending national values of the EU Member States.

The meeting with JURI Committee delegation was attended by: Chair of the Seimas Committee on Legal Affairs, Julius Sabatauskas; Deputy Speaker of the Seimas, Chair of the Committee on European Affairs, Gediminas Kirkilas; Chair of the Committee on Human Rights, Leonardas Talmontas; Deputy Chair of the Committee on European Affairs, Andrius Mazuronis; Member of the Committees on Audit and European Affairs, Loreta Graužinienė; Member of the Seimas Committees on Legal Affairs and European Affairs, Vilija Aleknaitė-Abramikienė, Member of the Seimas Committees on European Affairs and Education, Science and Culture, Marija Aušrinė Pavilionienė; Member of the Committee on Legal Affairs, Vitalijus Gailius.

 

 

Gintarė Morkūnienė, Adviser to the Office of the Committee on Legal Affairs, tel. +370 5  239 6583

 

Asta Markevičienė, Public Relations Unit, tel. +370 5 239 6202