Speaker of the Seimas,

Distinguished Colleagues,

The EU external relations agenda is dynamic and changing very rapidly in reaction to the fast-changing international situation. It aims at effectively addressing permanent challenges. I believe that at this Conference we will touch upon a wide range of matters, share important ideas and discuss the ways to ensure greater consistency of EU’s external action by using the instruments made available under the Treaty of Lisbon.

The security of our states is directly dependant on the processes in our neighbourhood. Through offering support to political, economic and social reforms implemented by its Eastern and Southern neighbours as well as through the reinforcement of its ties with the neighbouring countries, the EU is contributing to building a safe neighbourhood opening new opportunities. We have to unite and pool our efforts in order to actively use the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy to build a safer and more democratic environment. The particularly complicated situation in our Southern neighbourhood deserves special attention. Both the continuing unrest in Egypt and the dramatic and unpredictable situation in Syria will undoubtedly be covered in our discussion.

The key focus of the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union is the Eastern Partnership. Apart from being an important priority of the Lithuanian Presidency, it also ranks among significant objectives of the EU under the agenda of striving for a safe and democratic neighbourhood based on the rule of law. I hope that the third Summit of Heads of State of the EU and Eastern Partnership countries in Vilnius on 28-29 November 2013 will be seen as a meeting of opportunities both for partner states and the EU.

Colleagues,

I believe that this Inter-Parliamentary Conference will rise up to its full potential by contributing to the shaping and implementation of the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy. The voice of the national Parliaments and the European Parliament, as directly elected representatives of the citizens of the EU Member States, clearly needs to be heard. I wish everyone a fulfilling debate and a pleasant stay in Vilnius.