On 4–6 September 2013, the Seimas hosts one of the most important events of the Parliamentary Dimension of the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the EU, namely, the Inter-Parliamentary Conference for the Common Foreign and Security Policy and the Common Security and Defence Policy (further referred to as the Conference). Baroness Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO Secretary General, and other high-ranking officials are expected to attend.

The Conference will focus on the strategies and priorities of the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy, the promotion of democratic values and the current developments of the Eastern Partnership. “The items to be discussed at the Conference are an excellent reflection of both the relevant issues on the EU agenda and the Lithuanian Presidency priorities. The participation of important guests and their interest in the Conference clearly demonstrates the significance of the event for the process of formation and implementation of common EU policy”, said Prof. Benediktas Juodka, Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Artūras Paulauskas, Chair of the Committee on National Security and Defence, believes that the event of this scope is an excellent opportunity for Lithuania to take part in the process of shaping a safer Europe.

“We will analyse the global security situation, discuss EU and NATO cooperation, EU ambitions and real defence capabilities, the interplay between these domains and the opportunities to strike the right balance between them. The ideas expressed and the conclusions adopted at the Conference will make a considerable parliamentary contribution in the run-up to the December European Council, where the main focus will be on defence issues”, Mr Paulauskas said.

The decision to establish the Inter-Parliamentary Conference for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) was adopted at the Conference of Speakers of EU Parliaments in Warsaw on 19-21 April 2012. The Speakers of Parliaments proposed merging the meetings of the Chairpersons of Committees on Foreign Affairs of EU Parliaments and the meetings of the Chairpersons of Defence Committees of EU Parliaments. At the new Inter-Parliamentary Conference, the key focus is on foreign, security and defence policy of the EU. The first Conference was held in Paphos, Cyprus, on 10–11 September 2012; the second was organised in Dublin, Ireland, on 24–26 March 2013 and the third will be held at the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania in Vilnius on 4–6 September 2013.

Agnė Silickienė, Adviser, Office of the Committee on National Security and Defence, tel. +370 5 239 6771

Milda Petrokaitė, Adviser, Office of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, tel. +370 5 2396835